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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Formation of Supramolecular Nanotubes by Self-assembly of a Phosphate-linked Dimeric Anthracene in Water
Hao Yu1, Mattia Sabetti1, Robert Häner1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The assembly of supramolecular polymers from a phosphodiester-linked dimeric anthracene is described. AFM and TEM imaging reveals that the supramolecular polymers self-assemble into nanotubes in water. Subsequent photodimerization experiments indicate that the supramolecular polymerization occurs via end-to-end stacking rather than an interdigitation arrangement of the building blocks.
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