A pi-conjugated hydrogel based on an Fmoc-dipeptide naphthalene diimide semiconductor

The beta-sheet self-assembly of an n-type NDI-dipeptide into a transparent, self-supporting hydrogel at low concentrations is described. The nanostructure of the gel is stabilized by the intermolecular pi-pi association of the NDI units and pi-pi interdigitation of the fluorene groups.