Effect of polymerization on hierarchical self-assembly into nanosheets

Control over the Aspect Ratio of Supramolecular Nanosheets by Molecular Design

Recent developments in kinetically controlled supramolecular polymerization permit control of the size (i.e., length and area) of self-assembled nanostructures. However, control of molecular self-assembly at a level comparable with organic synthetic chemistry and the achievement of structural complexity at a hierarchy larger than the molecular level remain challenging. This study focuses on controlling the aspect ratio of supramolecular nanosheets. A systematic understanding of the relationship between the monomer structure and the self-assembly energy landscape has derived a new monomer capable of forming supramolecular nanosheets. With this monomer in hand, the aspect ratio of a supramolecular nanosheet is demonstrated that it can be controlled by modulating intermolecular interactions in two dimensions.

Amphiphilicity Regulation of AgI Nanoclusters: Self-Assembly and Its Application as a Luminescent Probe

Research on the self-assembly of various amphiphilic molecules is a relatively new research area and of great significance. However, new kinds of metal-nanocluster (NC)-based amphiphilic molecule have rarely been explored. Herein, hydrophobic cation 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium (C₁₆ mim⁺ ) was chosen to modify hydrophilic (NH₄ )₆ [Ag₆ (mna)₆ ] (Ag₆ -NCs, H₂ mna=2-mercaptonicotinic acid) and Ag₆ @C₁₆ mim-NCs were obtained. Ag₆ @C₁₆ mim-NCs displayed thermotropic liquid crystal and thermofluorescent properties. Moreover, the Ag₆ @C₁₆ mim-NCs exhibits benign amphiphilicity, and it can self-assemble into ordered nanosheets and nanorods through aggregation in water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) binary solvent mixtures, whereas single Ag₆ -NCs do not. Meanwhile, the Ag₆ @C₁₆ mim-NCs also displays aggregation-induced emission properties owing to the restriction of intramolecular vibrations of the capping ligands. Furthermore, the luminescent aggregates could detect arginine selectively with the detection limit at 28 μm. This study introduces a new kind of metal-NC-based amphiphilic molecule in a supramolecular self-assembly field, and they have potential to be used as optical materials in applied research.

Hydrophobicity and CH/π-interaction-driven self-assembly of amphiphilic aromatic hydrocarbons into nanosheets

The hydrophobicity and CH/π-interaction-driven self-assembly of an amphiphile that contains a biphenylanthracene group furnishes micrometer-scale nanosheets with a windmill-shaped molecular packing structure in dilute aqueous solution.

Redox-Responsive and Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Nanosheet Gels with High Young's Moduli

Supramolecular gels made from 2D building blocks are emerging as one of the novel multifunctional soft materials for various applications. This study reports on a class of supramolecular nanosheet gels formed through a reversible self-assembly process involving both intramolecular folding and intermolecular self-assembly of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)-co-(phenyl-capped bithiophenes)]. Such hierarchical self-assembled structure allows the gels to switch between sol and gel states under either redox or thermostimulus. Moreover, the gels illustrate high Young's moduli, compared to their controls that are made from the same oligo(ethylene glycol) and phenyl-capped bithiophenes blocks but have highly covalent-crosslinked structures. The example might open a window for emerging supramolecular 2D materials to develop mechanically robust and stimuli-responsive soft materials without compromising their intrinsic functions.

Stacked-Layer Heterostructure Films of 2D Thiophene Nanosheets and Graphene for High-Rate All-Solid-State Pseudocapacitors with Enhanced Volumetric Capacitance

Stacked-layer heterostructure films of 2D thiophene nanosheets and electrochemically exfoliated graphene are constructed for ultrahigh-rate all-solid-state flexible pseudocapacitors and micro-supercapacitors with superior volumetric capacitance due to the synergetic effect of the ultrathin pseudocapacitive thiophene nanosheets and the capacitive electrochemically exfoliated graphene.

Control over differentiation of a metastable supramolecular assembly in one and two dimensions

Molecular self-assembly under kinetic control is expected to yield nanostructures that are inaccessible through the spontaneous thermodynamic process. Moreover, time-dependent evolution, which is reminiscent of biomolecular systems, may occur under such out-of-equilibrium conditions, allowing the synthesis of supramolecular assemblies with enhanced complexities. Here we report on the capacity of a metastable porphyrin supramolecular assembly to differentiate into nanofibre and nanosheet structures. Mechanistic studies of the relationship between the molecular design and pathway complexity in the self-assembly unveiled the energy landscape that governs the unique kinetic behaviour. Based on this understanding, we could control the differentiation phenomena and achieve both one- and two-dimensional living supramolecular polymerization using an identical monomer. Furthermore, we found that the obtained nanostructures are electronically distinct, which illustrates the pathway-dependent material properties.

Control of optical and electrical properties of nanosheets by the chemical structure of the turning point in a foldable polymer

Oligomers of tetra(ethylene glycol)-disubstituted phenyl-capped bithiophene (Ph2TPh) linked by catechol and resorcinol were prepared. Catechol and resorcinol link the monomers via the ortho- and meta-positions of the benzene ring, respectively, and function as turning points in the folding process of the polymer. It was confirmed that the ortho-linked 8mer (o-8mer) and meta-linked 8mer (m-8mer) could form nanosheets through the self-assembly of folded polymers in o-dichlorobenzene. We confirmed that the arrangement of thiophene units inside the nanosheets was controllable by changing the chemical structure of the turning point. The different arrangements of the Ph2TPh units led to changes in other physical properties such as UV-Vis absorption, nanosheet thickness and charge carrier transport. The absorption spectrum of the o-8mer nanosheets suggested that the Ph2TPh units are arranged vertical to the lateral direction of the nanosheets. On the other hand, the Ph2TPh units in the m-8mer nanosheets were considered to have a tilted orientation. The change in the Ph2TPh tilt angle inside the nanosheets was supported by the different thicknesses of the o-8mer and m-8mer nanosheets. The relationship between the absorption spectrum and Ph2TPh unit arrangement was discussed based on the DFT calculation. Intrinsic charge carrier transport properties were evaluated by a noncontact microwave-based method. The o-8mer nanosheets showed higher conductivity than the m-8mer and triazole-linked-8mer nanosheets. The lifetime of charge carriers in the nanosheet was longer than that in the lamellar structure of the drop-cast film.

Effect of Topological Structures on the Self-Assembly Behavior of Supramolecular Amphiphiles

Three types of azobenzene-based telechelic guest polymers, PEG-azo, azo-PEG-azo, and PEG-azo4, were synthesized by a facile method. Subsequently, a series supramolecular amphiphiles with three distinct topological structures (hemitelechelic, ditelechelic, and quadritelechelic) were constructed through coupling with host polymer β-cyclodextrin-poly(l-lactide) (β-CD-PLLA) by combined host-guest complexation. Research on the self-assembly behavior of these amphiphiles demonstrated that the variation in self-assembly was tuned by the synergistic interaction of hydrophilicity and the curvature of the polymer chains, and very importantly, the topological structure of amphiphiles demonstrated effective control of the self-assembly behavior.