Gelation of a highly fluorescent urea-functionalized perylene bisimide dye

A urea-containing tetraphenoxy-substituted perylene bisimide has been synthesized, and its gelation ability has been studied. This functional dye forms fluorescent organogels in toluene and tetrachloromethane through self-assembly by hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi-stacking interactions. AFM and confocal laser scanning microscopy reveal the formation of fiberlike aggregates.