A model for the controlled assembly of semiconductor peptides.

The self-assembly of small molecules provides a potentially powerful method to create functional nanomaterials for many applications ranging from optoelectronics to oncology. However, the design of well-defined nanostructures via molecular assembly is a highly empirical process, which severely hampers efforts to create functional nanostructures using this method. In this review, we describe a simple strategy to control the assembly of functionalized peptides by balancing attractive hydrophobic effects that drive assembly with opposing electrostatic repulsions. Extended π-π contacts are created in the nanostructures when assembly is driven by π-stacking interactions among chromophores that are appended to the peptide. The formation of insoluble β-sheet aggregates are mitigated by incorporating charged side-chains capable of attenuating the assembly process. Although the application of this approach to the assembly of organic semiconductors is described, we expect this strategy to be effective for many other functional organic materials.

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