Size Selective Corona Interactions from Self-Assembled Rosette and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• Nanomaterials science
• Surface chemistry

Background:

• Nanoparticle corona phases influence catalytic and interfacial properties.
• Controlling corona phases on anisotropic nanoparticles is challenging.
• Hierarchically self-assembled nanostructures offer potential solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize rosette nanotubes (RNTs) for creating precise corona phases on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).
• To investigate the structural and electronic properties of RNT-SWCNT complexes.
• To explore the potential for molecular-level control over nanoparticle interfaces.

Main Methods:

• Supramolecular self-assembly of RNTs onto SWCNTs.
• Characterization using Raman spectroscopy.
• Analysis of photoluminescence (PL) properties.

Main Results:

• Formation of molecularly precise and continuous RNT corona phases on SWCNTs.
• RNT-SWCNT complexes achieved the lowest reported solvent-exposed surface area.
• Observed molecular-scale control of free volume and effects of confined water.
• Modulated SWCNT photoluminescence dependent on diameter and chirality, with enhanced PL for (11,1) species.

Conclusions:

• RNT chemistry provides a method for precisely defining exterior and interior corona interfaces.
• This approach enables precision control over core-shell nanoparticle interfaces.
• The study opens new avenues for designing functional nanomaterials with tailored properties.