Switchable ternary nanoporous supramolecular network on photo-regulation
Yong-Tao Shen1, Ke Deng, Xue-Mei Zhang
1National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 11 Zhongguancun Beiyitiao, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China.
Nano Letters
|July 8, 2011
Summary
This study demonstrates light-controlled molecular encapsulation in a nanoporous supramolecular network. UV/visible light reversibly switches the network
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Controlled switching of supramolecular networks is crucial for molecular nanodevices.
- Supramolecular host-guest chemistry enables molecular recognition and encapsulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a photoregulated switchable supramolecular network for molecular encapsulation.
- To investigate the reversible accommodation of guest molecules using light stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a well-defined nanoporous complex template using TCDB/4NN-Macrocycle(trans,trans,trans,trans) with photosensitive units.
- Utilizing UV irradiation to switch the template 'on' for guest encapsulation.
- Employing visible light to switch the template 'off' and expel guest molecules.
Main Results:
- The supramolecular network exhibits reversible guest molecule accommodation regulated by UV/visible light.
- UV irradiation induces a photoisomerization in the template, leading to coronene encapsulation.
- Visible light reverses the photoisomerization, expelling coronene from the cavities.
Conclusions:
- A photoregulated switchable multicomponent supramolecular guest-host network was successfully developed.
- This provides a novel strategy for fabricating functional nanodevices at the molecular scale.
- The reversible light-controlled encapsulation offers potential for advanced molecular machines.
