Conducting Nanofibers: Diagonal Scrolling of 2D Nanosheets into 1D Nanostructures via In Situ Self-Assembly

Scrolling mechanism is considered as a significant process to tune the dimensionality of nanostructures. Remarkably, rolling of ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) layered graphene nanosheets into one-dimensional (1D) nanotubes perceived versatile applications in nanomedicine and organic electronics. Nevertheless, this exceptional phenomenon is observed in limited 2D π-conjugated systems until now, and it is essential to extend it toward feasible organic systems. Herein, we reported two porphyrin-derived systems (P1 and P2), in which P2 composed of porphyrin and benzothiadiazole with directional amide hydrogen-bonding moiety acts as a good electron donor–acceptor system. Consequently, P2 showed high-conducting 1D nanofibers from the diagonal scrolling of 2D nanosheets via in situ self-assembly. Photophysical properties of P2 revealed J-type aggregates in cyclohexane, while P1 exists as monomers. Cyclic voltammetry analysis of P2 showed the ease of oxidation compared to P1 owing to the efficient electron transfer from donor to acceptor derivative. Microscopic analysis suggests that P2 depicts 2D nanosheets with an average diameter of 1–3 μm upon diagonal scrolling of 1D nanofibers of width 1–1.5 μm and length several micrometers. Electrochemical impedance analysis revealed that 1D nanofibers of P2 depict electrical conductivity in the range of 1.5 ± 0.2 S/cm. Thereby, these derivatives highlight that NIR absorption and their efficient optoelectronic characteristics promote the alternatives for inorganic semiconductors in organic electronics.