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Distinct Nanostructures from a Molecular Shuttle: Effects of Shuttling Movement on Nanostructural Morphologies
Author(s) -
Zhou Weidong,
Xu Jialiang,
Zheng Haiyan,
Yin Xiaodong,
Zuo Zicheng,
Liu Huibiao,
Li Yuliang
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200801149
Subject(s) - intermolecular force , materials science , dipole , chromophore , solvent , molecular dynamics , chemical physics , alkyl , supramolecular chemistry , nanotechnology , photochemistry , molecule , chemistry , computational chemistry , organic chemistry
A solvent driven molecular shuttle that contains a TCBD chromophore and in which the macrocycle can be positioned close to or far from the TCBD unit with a change of solvent is prepared. Several distinct nanostructures are obtained by control of the shuttling movement of the macrocycle: i) in a mixed solvent of CHCl 3 / n ‐C 6 H 14 (1/1, v/v), the macrocycle locates at the peptide station, and interlaced nanofibers form as a result of the extended intermolecular dipole–dipole interactions of the TCBD units; ii) in a solvent of dimethyl sulfoxide, the macrocycle moves along the long alkyl‐chain, and worm‐like nanoparticles form because the macrocycle obstructs the intermolecular dipole–dipole interactions of the TCBD units. This system confirms that the molecular aggregation behaviors can be controlled by the shuttling movement of the macrocycle. Exploitation of the molecular shuttle to control the molecular aggregation behaviors will provide greater understanding in the field of molecular shuttle applications.