Hierarchically ordered structures of disk-cube triads containing hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Obtaining nanoscale-ordered structures is important for the development of nanotechnology. We designed and synthesized a series of disk-cube triads containing one hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) and two polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) moieties, HBC–2POSS. The two POSS units were linked via ester or amide bonds. With the amide linkage used, the hydrogen bonding that was introduced affected the balance between the π–π interaction of HBC cores and crystallization interaction of POSS units. Hierarchically ordered structures were obtained from HBC–2POSS triads owing to the synergistic effect of multiple secondary interactions: π–π interaction, hydrogen bonding, and crystallization interaction. As organic–inorganic hybrid materials, these HBC–2POSS triads are promising candidates for templates <10 nm.