Optoelectronic property and sensing applications of crystalline nano/microwires of decacyclene

The characterisation and potential sensing applications of nano- and microwires of decacyclene are reported in this study. Attenuated total reflection infrared and differential thermal analyses reveal that the nano/microstructures are composed of aggregated decacyclene molecules that are held by π-π interactions. Transmission electron microscopy images and the electron diffraction patterns show that, in the nanowires, the decacyclene molecules are oriented with their long axis perpendicular to the wires and the π-π stacking direction parallel to the wire. Cross-optical polarised microscopy results shows a birefringent crystal structure of the decacyclene crystalline wires. Fluorescent imaging shows that the crystalline wires might be used as a waveguide material. Both the conductivity and fluorescence of the nanobelts change selectively in the presence of vapour of nitrobenzene, a representative nitroaromatic, suggesting that the nanowires of decacyclene may be used for selective detection of explosives.