Conducting supramolecular nanofibers and nanorods

Recent progress in the study of electroconducting nanomaterials such as nanofibers, nanorods and other nanostructures based on the supramolecular self-assembly of hexabenzocoronenes, oligo(thiophene)s, tetrathiafulvalenes and perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimides is described in this tutorial review. Conducting nanofibers and nanorods are constructed by doping pi-donors or pi-acceptors with oxidants or reductants before/after the formation of such nanostructures; however, some nanofibers show electric conductivity without any doping in the neutral state. Although cation radicals and anion radicals seem to be difficult to form nanofibers and nanorods, a limited number of cation radicals produce conducting nanofibers. For nanofibers and nanorods composed of weak pi-donors and pi-acceptors, their conductivities are measured by time-resolved microwave conductivity techniques.