Light- and small-angle neutron scattering as well as cryo-transmission elec
tron microscopy (cryo-TEM) studies were performed to probe the structure of
J-aggregates formed by a series of achiral dye molecules of the 5,5',6,6'-
tetrachlorobenzimidacarbocyanine chromophore having 1,1'-dialkyl substituen
ts combined with 3,3'-bis(4-sulfobutyl)-3,3'-bis(4-carboxybutyl) or 3,3'-bi
s(3-carboxypropyl) substituents. Assemblies that display a dependence on th
e substituents different complex supramolecular structures of nanometer-to-
micrometer size have been directly visualized by cryo-TEM. The superstructu
res span from monomolecular layers formed by the 1,1'-diethyl-3,3'-bis(4-su
lfobutyl) derivative and stacks of bilayer ribbons in the case of the 1,1'-
dioctyl-3,3'-bis(4-carboxybutyl) derivative to twisted ropelike structures
for the chiral aggregate of the 1,1'dioctyl-3,3'-bis(3-carboxypropyl)-subst
ituted chromophore.