Supramolecular motif and macroscopic pattern in alpha-methylferrocenemethanol films cast from organic solution

The macroscopic patterns were formed in alpha-methylferrocenemethanol films cast from organic solutions. The macroscopic pattern was composed of concentric rings in the solid film. The concentric rings consist of convex ridges and concave valleys; the ordered phase constitutes the convex ridges, while the concave valleys barely contain anything. It has been found that, as for the solvent which can form hydrogen bonding with the solute and has suitable evaporation rate, macroscopic pattern could be observed in the solid film; while as for the solvent that cannot form hydrogen bonding with the solute, no macroscopic pattern would appear. It was suggested that, intermolecular hydrogen bonding and aromatic π stacking interactions of the solute is responsible for the formation of the microscopic crystalline structure; while the hydrogen bonding between the solute and the solvent, and the solvent-evaporation-induced crystallization process, as well as the solvent-evaporation-induced convections are responsible for the formation of the macroscopic pattern. The results could offer a facile way to the electronic material films with well-defined spatial alignment.