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Programmable supramolecular chirality in non-equilibrium systems affording a multistate chiroptical switch.
Jingjing Li1, Yihan Cui2, Yi-Lin Lu3
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
Nature Communications
|August 18, 2023
Summary
Chemical fuels control supramolecular chirality in non-equilibrium systems. This research enables programmable, recyclable chiral hydrogels, advancing dynamic materials design.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Dynamic regulation of supramolecular chirality is key to understanding biological self-assembly.
- Non-equilibrium systems offer unique pathways for molecular organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate chemical fuel-driven regulation of self-assembly pathways.
- To control supramolecular chirality in non-equilibrium systems.
- To develop programmable and recyclable chiral materials.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing chemical fuels (acids) to direct self-assembly pathways.
- Investigating pathway-dependent self-assembly dynamics.
- Employing sequential chemical fueling and thermal annealing processes.
Main Results:
- Achieved pathway-dependent self-assembly, yielding transient or inverse supramolecular chirality.
- Demonstrated sequential programmability of supramolecular chirality across four distinct chiral hydrogels.
- Developed a recyclable, multistate supramolecular chiroptical switch.
Conclusions:
- Chemical fuels offer a powerful tool for controlling non-equilibrium self-assembly and supramolecular chirality.
- This work provides new strategies for designing advanced supramolecular chiral materials.
- The findings open avenues for kinetically controlled non-equilibrium states in materials science.
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