Encapsulation induced aggregation: a self-assembly strategy for weakly pi-stacking chromophores.

Molecular assembly of weakly pi-stacking core-substituted naphthalene diimides (cNDIs) requires the participation of strong side-group interactions. Spatial confinement within a micellar core leads to locally elevated concentrations and reduced entropy that drives a rapid aggregation, often followed by a slower aggregate reorganization. Fast aggregation kinetics leads to self-sorting of aggregates.