Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Microfluidic Pneumatic Cages: A Novel Approach for In-chip Crystal Trapping, Manipulation and Controlled Chemical Treatment
Published on: July 12, 2016
Adaptive Cavity-Enabled Crystalline Chirality in Nanocarbon Cages
Zhongwen Liu1,2, Bohan Zhao1,2, Lan Sheng1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Stoddart Institute of Molecular Science, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Chiral nanocarbons are attractive because their unique chiroptical properties enable advanced optical applications. In this work, we report the discovery that the chirality of nanocarbon cages may be changed in the crystalline state through an "adaptive cavity" effect. This effect allows the use of different crystallization solvents or the introduction of coronene guest molecules to modulate the conformation of the nanocarbon cages. This adaptive behavior permits construction of chiral hierarchical superstructures from achiral building blocks. The resulting chiral crystals exhibit second-harmonic generation activity and a strong piezoelectric response (d33 = 120 pm/V). This work details a novel method for constructing molecular-level chirality-controlled solid-state systems, providing not only proof-of-concept examples but also new insights into the development of advanced chiral crystalline nanocarbon materials.
Related Concept Videos
Chirality in Nature
Chirality
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
Prochirality
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
Stereoisomerism of Cyclic Compounds

