Cover Picture: Small 1/2009

The cover picture shows mesoscopic crystals of hexa-benzo-coronene molecules obtained by temperature-enhanced solvent vapor annealing (TESVA) processing. By attaining a control over the hydrodynamic forces, TESVA allows for the self-assembly of small aromatic molecules into large, ordered crystals featuring an edge-on columnar type of arrangement, which differs from the morphologies obtained using conventional solution-processing methods such as spin-coating or drop-casting. This promotes reorganization from the scale of a few nanometers up to several hundreds of micrometers, leading to the formation of crystalline functional architectures. Novel C3 symmetric hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes functionalized with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains (shown in red and blue, respectively, in the image) are used as model systems. For more information, please read the Full Paper “Temperature-Enhanced Solvent Vapor Annealing of a C3 Symmetric Hexa-peri-Hexabenzocoronene: Controlling the Self-Assembly from Nano-to Macroscale” by V. Palermo, K. Müllen, P. Samorí, et al. beginning on page 112.