Abstract:
The creation of uniform, precise nanomaterials is a key scientific challenge.1 While supramolecular self-assembly can lead to interesting nanostructures such as helical fibres, nanocages, or Turing patterns, it typically produces nanostructures with a distribution of sizes, and it is difficult to control the length or morphology of the nanomaterials formed.2 This challenge is exacerbated if we consider the assembly of multicomponent systems into controlled nanostructures.
In this talk, I will present my research on the controlled self-assembly and co-assembly of metal complexes attached to a benzene-1,3-5-tricarboxamide (BTA) motif. We have synthesized various metal complexes attached to the BTA core, and these complexes have shown very different self-assembly behaviors. We have been able to achieve controlled self-assembly of these metal complexes into low polydispersity nanofibres,3 and the co-assembly of these metal complexes has also led to nanofibres of uniform lengths. Finally, I will briefly describe how modifying the BTA core led to nanostructures with other morphologies.
References:
(1) Wehner, M.; Würthner, F. Supramolecular Polymerization through Kinetic Pathway Control and Living Chain Growth. Nat. Rev. Chem. 2019, 4, 38 – 53.
(2) Bäumer, N.; Matern, J.; Fernández, G. Recent Progress and Future Challenges in the Supramolecular Polymerization of Metal-Containing Monomers. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 12248 – 12265.
(3) Das Gupta, M.; Boott, C. E.; Goon, J. E.; Patrick, B. O.; Reid, J. P.; MacLachlan, M. J. Controlled Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Uniform Nanostructures from Trimetallic Complexes. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2023, 6, 4672 – 4680.