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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Thermochemical Studies of Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 8, 2022
Fibrous aggregates from dinuclear zinc(II) salphen complexes
Joseph K-H Hui1, Mark J MacLachlan
1University of British Columbia, Department of Chemistry, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z1.
Two zinc(II) salphen complexes bridged by hydrocarbon chains self-assembled into nanofibrillar structures. Their morphology was tunable via 4,4'-bipyridine and hydrophobic effects.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Coordination Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Zinc(II) complexes with salphen ligands are known for their diverse structural and functional properties.
- Self-assembly of metal-organic frameworks offers pathways to novel nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel zinc(II) salphen-based metal complexes.
- To investigate the self-assembled supramolecular structures of these complexes.
- To explore the influence of additives and environmental factors on their morphology.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of dinuclear zinc(II) salphen complexes bridged by flexible hydrocarbon chains.
- Characterization using spectroscopic and analytical techniques.
- Morphological analysis via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Main Results:
- All synthesized complexes exhibited a consistent nanofibrillar morphology.
- The addition of 4,4'-bipyridine significantly altered the surface texture of the nanostructures.
- Hydrophobic effects were found to influence the diameter of the resulting fibrils.
Conclusions:
- Dinuclear zinc(II) salphen complexes can self-assemble into ordered nanofibrillar structures.
- The supramolecular architecture is sensitive to external stimuli, allowing for morphological control.
- These findings contribute to the design of tunable metal-organic nanomaterials.
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