Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
10:39
Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
8.3K
Chain-Length-Selective Intermolecular Charge-Transfer Regulation via Competitive and Cooperative Pathways in
Susu Ren1, Yu-Xiang Sun1, Yuan-Zheng Liu1
1Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, MOE, Department of Materials Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 20, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed dynamic supramolecular materials using macrocycles and charge-transfer complexes. These materials exhibit tunable optical and photothermal properties in response to aldehyde vapors, enabling new functional material designs.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Dynamic regulation of intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) interactions in solids is crucial for responsive materials.
- Developing solid-state materials with tunable optical and photothermal properties remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design dynamic macrocycle-based CT complexes with tunable optical and photothermal properties.
- To investigate dual-mode supramolecular strategies for responsive material construction.
- To explore vapor-induced structural transformations and their impact on material properties.
Main Methods:
- Solvent-free grinding of pillararene-derived macrocycles (EtLP6, EtFLP6) with F4TCNQ to form CT complexes.
- Vaporochromism studies using aliphatic aldehyde vapors.
- Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and powder diffraction analyses.
- Spectroscopic analyses (UV-Vis-NIR) to monitor structural changes.
- Photothermal conversion efficiency measurements under 808 nm irradiation.
Main Results:
- Formation of disordered CT assemblies with tunable chain-length-dependent vapochromic behavior.
- Distinct vapor-responsive mechanisms: guest-triggered disassembly/reassembly (EtLP6-F4TCNQα) and aldehyde-assisted ternary assembly (EtFLP6-F4TCNQα).
- Correlation between vapor-induced structural transformations and near-infrared (NIR) absorption changes.
- Demonstration of the first vapor-regulated organic photothermal cocrystal system with tunable conversion efficiency up to 11%.
Conclusions:
- A versatile framework for designing solid-state supramolecular materials with multi-responsive optical and thermal functions was established.
- Macrocyclic host-guest chemistry provides a powerful tool for dynamic CT complex construction.
- The developed materials show potential for applications in sensing and photothermal therapy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
1.1K
In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...
1.1K
01:09Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes
761
In complexation reactions, metal cations are the electron pair acceptors, and the ligands are the electron pair donors. The stability of the metal complexes depends primarily on the complexing ability of the central metal ion and the nature of the ligands. Generally, the complexing ability of the metal ion depends on the size and charge of the ion. As the metal ion size increases, the stability of the metal complexes decreases, provided that the valency of the metal ion and the ligands remain...
761
02:51Metal-Ligand Bonds
23.8K
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
23.8K
00:56Extraction: Advanced Methods
1.0K
Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...
1.0K
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
30.4K
Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
30.4K
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
47.9K
Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
47.9K