Solvent-controlled reversible switching between adsorbed self-assembled nanoribbons and nanotubes
Asad Jamal1, Irina Nyrkova2, Philippe Mesini2
1Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Herman-Herder-Strasse 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. guenter.reiter@physik.uni-freiburg.de and Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Nanoscale
|February 23, 2017
Summary
Solutions of 3,5-bis-(5-hexylcarbamoylpentyloxy)-benzoic acid decyl ester (BHPB-10) can form various nanostructures like nanotubes and nanoribbons. Solvent choice and annealing enable reversible switching between these structures, offering control over nanostructure formation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- The self-assembly of molecules into ordered nanostructures is crucial for developing advanced materials.
- Controlling the morphology of self-assembled nanostructures is a significant challenge in materials science.
- Understanding the role of specific molecular interactions in directing self-assembly is key to designing functional nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation of metastable nanostructures from 3,5-bis-(5-hexylcarbamoylpentyloxy)-benzoic acid decyl ester (BHPB-10) in different solvents.
- To explore the influence of solvent properties on the self-assembly behavior of BHPB-10.
- To demonstrate the reversible switching between different nanostructures (nanotubes, nanoribbons, helical ribbons) through controlled environmental changes.
Main Methods:
- Solution-based self-assembly of BHPB-10 in cyclohexane and cyclohexanone.
- Characterization of nanostructures using techniques like electron microscopy (implied).
- Controlled annealing and solvent exchange to induce structural transformations.
Main Results:
- BHPB-10 forms nanotubes (28 ± 5 nm diameter) in cyclohexane via inter-amide hydrogen bonds and ring attractions.
- BHPB-10 forms flat nanoribbons (12 ± 4 nm width) in cyclohexanone, which suppresses hydrogen bonds.
- Reversible switching between nanoribbons and nanotubes was achieved by altering solvent conditions, with helical ribbons observed as intermediates.
Conclusions:
- Specific intermolecular interactions, driven by distinct strongly interacting groups (SIGs) within BHPB-10, dictate the resulting nanostructure.
- Solvent choice is a critical factor in controlling the self-assembly pathway and morphology.
- The study demonstrates an effective strategy for tailoring nanostructure shape and size from a single achiral building block through controlled self-assembly.
