Temperature-Controlled,
Reversible, Nanofiber Assembly
from an Amphiphilic Macrocycle
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Abstract
One-dimensional nanostructures are self-assembled from
an amphiphilic
arylene-ethynylene macrocycle (AEM) in solution phase. The morphology
and size of the nanostructures are controlled by simply changing the
temperature, reversibly switching between monomolecular cross-sectioned
nanofibers and large bundles. At elevated temperature in aqueous solutions,
the tri(ethylene glycol) (Tg) side chains of the AEM become effectively
more hydrophobic, thus facilitating intermolecular association through
side chain interactions. The enhanced intermolecular association causes
the ultrathin nanofibers to be bundled, forming an opaque dispersion
in solution. The reported observation provides a simple molecular
design rule that may be applicable to other macrocycle molecules for
use in temperature-controlled assembly regarding both size and morphology