Formation and Growth of Molecular Nanocrystals Probed by their Optical Properties

A red fluorescent zwitterionic molecule based on the diaminodicyanoquinodimethane framework is synthesized
and structurally characterized. Formation of nanocrystals of this molecule through the reprecipitation protocol
is followed by examining the optical absorption and emission. Computational modeling based on molecular
and crystal structures provides insight into the assembly of molecules during colloid formation. Molecular
nano/microcrystals of increasing size are fabricated through a digestion procedure, and the size-dependent
optical properties are investigated by spectroscopy and microscopy. Utility of polymer wrapping to arrest the
growth of these crystals is described.