Unidirectional Branching Growth of Dipeptide Single Crystals for Remote Light Multiplication and Collection

Herein, we report on the unidirectional branched assembly of diphenylalanine dipeptide through a one-step rapid evaporation process. Large numbers of crystalline tubular branches with smooth surfaces are developed from a hexagonal solid microrod mimicking a "Christmas tree". Density functional theory suggests the formation of tubular diphenylalanine aggregates with cis isomers. The diphenylalanine branched assembly shows good optical waveguide properties that can transmit light homogeneously along the crystal fibers as well as harvest light from the tips of branches to the microrod terminals. These findings hold importance in the development of bioinspired optical fibers for information transmission in a microscale.