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Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Solvent-induced variable conformation of bis(terpyridine) derivatives during supramolecular self-assembly at
Shuai Wang1, Fengying Zhao, Shiwen Luo
1CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Zhongguancun Beiyitiao, Beijing 100190, China. gengyf@nanoctr.cn zengqd@nanoctr.cn wangch@nanoctr.cn.
Abstract:
Variable supramolecular structures constructed by bis-(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)-4'-oxyhexadecane (BT-O-C16) on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Seven different solvents (1-phenyloctane, n-tetradecane, n-dodecane, n-decane, n-octane, 1-heptanoic acid, and 1-octanoic acid) were utilized to affect the self-assembling structures of BT-O-C16 at liquid/HOPG interfaces. High-resolution STM analyses revealed that various nanostructures were formed by the change of molecular conformation, which are actually driven by the cooperative interaction effect under different environments. Therefore, the solvent-induced cooperative influence on the molecular self-assembly is important for constructing supramolecular nanostructures.
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