RESEARCH

5. Self-assembling Systems

Self-assembly is an excellent means for preparing complex objects or materials with unusual nano- or microstructures. We apply self-assembly concepts to both conventional amphiphilic surfactants and functional molecules such as porphyrins or pyrazinacenes.Amphiphilic properties, coordination chemistry and hydrogen bonding have all been applied in the development of some highly complex assemblies or hierarchically assembled systems.

Amphiphilic assembly of trigeminal porphyrins for controllable nanowire fabrication at a surface – molecular mobility aids the preparation of complex patterns of nanowires. (a) Atomic force microscopy of the nanowire formations. (b) model structure.
Amphiphilic assembly of trigeminal porphyrins for controllable nanowire fabrication at a surface – molecular mobility aids the preparation of complex patterns of nanowires. (a) Atomic force microscopy of the nanowire formations. (b) model structure.
Self-assembled pyrazinacene nanotubes. (a) Dark field transmission electron microscopy image of the nanotubes with fans of expelled materials. (b) Multiwalled self-assembled nanotunes.
Self-assembled pyrazinacene nanotubes. (a) Dark field transmission electron microscopy image of the nanotubes with fans of expelled materials. (b) Multiwalled self-assembled nanotunes.
(a) Molecular assemblies involving three different chromophores and anionic cofactors for mimicking of light harvesting processes and the influence of cofactors. (b) Oxocorrologen, a molecule with potentially ten different tautomeric forms.
(a) Molecular assemblies involving three different chromophores and anionic cofactors for mimicking of light harvesting processes and the influence of cofactors. (b) Oxocorrologen, a molecule with potentially ten different tautomeric forms.
Porphyrin-fullerene zebra nanowires assembled from block copolymers synthesized using living polymerization. The dimensions of the porphyrin- and fullerene-containing domains in these nanowires could be tuned minutely and the nanowires exhibited very high charge carrier mobilities due to the nanostructuring.
Porphyrin-fullerene zebra nanowires assembled from block copolymers synthesized using living polymerization. The dimensions of the porphyrin- and fullerene-containing domains in these nanowires could be tuned minutely and the nanowires exhibited very high charge carrier mobilities due to the nanostructuring.
Lead sulphide nanowires were converted to lead sulphide 2-dimensional sheets by applying a supramolecular concept involving Langmuir-Blodgett techniques.
Lead sulphide nanowires were converted to lead sulphide 2-dimensional sheets by applying a supramolecular concept involving Langmuir-Blodgett techniques.

Related publications