Discrimination of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons via modulated folding and fluorescence of an NDI-tetramer

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how a flexible NDI tetramer can differentiate between aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons based on its fluorescence properties.
• Synthesis of an electroactive NDI tetramer
• Investigation of solvent-dependent folding
• Measurement of fluorescence emission under varying hydrocarbon presence
• Aliphatic hydrocarbons enhance excimer emission more than aromatic hydrocarbons
• Both hydrocarbon types induce folding in the NDI tetramer
• Differences in fluorescence characteristics suggest selective sensing capabilities