Peptide‐tethered Perylenebisimide Aggregates with Copper Nanoclusters showing Thermoresponsive and Photoresponsive Properties

Abstract

AbstractA centrally located dipeptide(P) covalently attached to two perylene bisimide units [(PBI)2P] was synthesized and it was used to fabricate a hybrid system by aggregating with blue‐emitting, atomically precise copper nano‐clusters (Cu NCs). The interactions between these components [(PBI)2P] and Cu NCs] was thoroughly investigated by UV‐Vis spectroscopy and field emission gun transmission electron microscopy (FEG‐TEM).The effect of interaction between components on the optical properties of the hybrids was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Interestingly, this hybrid system shows fluorescence thermometric behaviour at the 20–50 °C temperature range with a promising reversible switchable fluorescence property. Photo‐switching property is enhanced significantly in the hybrid compared to that of the peptide tethered pelylene bisimides as it is evident from the improvement of photocurrent gain (Ion/Ioff) from 2.6 in [(PBI)2P] to 6.9 in the hybrid. Modulation of photo‐switching property along with the thermo‐sensitive fluorescence property in this hybrid holds a future promise for fabrication of devices from the peptide based hybrids.