Hyperbranched crystalline nanostructure produced from ionic π-conjugated molecules.

Self-assembled crystalline nanostructures with sheaf-like morphology fabricated from tetra(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin and tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin are reported for the first time. The hierarchical sheaf-like growth of the assemblies exhibits Arrhenius behaviour. The observed morphology results from crystal splitting during initial oriented attachment growth followed by Ostwald ripening.