On the role of hydrogen-bonding in the nanoscale organization of π-conjugated materials

This chapter offers a general vision on the role of hydrogen-bonding interactions on the structuring of molecular p-functional materials at the nanoscale. The chapter is divided into different sections as a function of the purpose of the H-bonds and the direction in which they are formed with respect to the stacking or polymerization axis. It focuses on three main nanoscale architectures leading to supramolecular polymers, depending on the purpose and direction of the H-bonding arrays. The first case describes supramolecular polymers where H-bonding, typically between amide or urea groups, cooperates with p-p interactions to yield materials in which some properties. The last two cases in contrast make use of more sophisticated complementary H-bonding fragments which are employed to bring molecules of different characteristics selectively together, thus allowing for the possibility of creating tailored molecular interfaces.