Selection of single-walled carbon nanotubes according to both their diameter and chirality via nanotweezers

2018

Angew Chem Int Ed

Self-assembly has been relied upon for molecular alignment in many advanced technological applications. However, although effective, it is inherently limited in its capability for optimization. Despite the potential benefits, the seemingly fundamental strategy of external orientation control has yet to be realized. Herein we demonstrate an approach that allows control of the orientation of small molecules covalently bound to a surface. The method exploits an alignment relay technique, passing alignment information through a liquid-crystal medium to small molecules to control surface functionalization events. The method is technically simple and can be carried out on a bench top without the need for specialized equipment. Moreover, we demonstrate the utility of the resulting surfaces to address two long-standing problems in nanoscience: the sorting and alignment of single-walled carbon nanotubes. This new method enabled significant alignment of the nanotubes as well as length and diameter sorting.

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Orientation Control of Molecularly Functionalized Surfaces Applied to the Simultaneous Alignment and Sorting of Carbon Nanotubes

2018

Angew Chem Int Ed

“…Interestingly,c omputational studies on an analogous system of p-concave hosts was carriedo ut by Zhou et al [76] They compared as eries of armchair and zigzag SWNTsw ith diameters ranging from 6 to 20 and the binding affinity of these nanotubes with acene-based p-concave hosts rangingfrom anthracene to heptacene (Figure 23). It wasc alculated that the acene tweezers had an oticeablep reference for binding to zigzag SWNTsa sw ould be expected by their matching shape.…”

Section: Carbon Nanotubesmentioning

confidence: 99%

π‐Concave Hosts for Curved Carbon Nanomaterials

2019

Chemistry A European J

Carbon nanomaterials have been at the forefront of nanotechnology since its inception. At the heart of this research are the curved carbon nanomaterial families: fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. While both have incredible properties that have been capitalized upon in a wide variety of applications, there is an aspect that is not commonly exploited by nanoscientists and organic chemists alike: the interaction of curved carbon nanomaterials with curved organic small molecules. By taking advantage of these interactions, new avenues are opened for the use of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.

“…Compound 1 should possess the aptitude to interact with SWNTs given that it contains two full triptycene cores. Opportunely, inspirational work from Lu, Gao, and co‐workers has demonstrated the possibility of a selective interaction between SWNTs and “nanotweezer” iptycenes, yielding the additional enticing prospect of diameter and chirality selectivity for our alignment relay technique.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Orientation Control of Molecularly Functionalized Surfaces Applied to the Simultaneous Alignment and Sorting of Carbon Nanotubes

2018

Angewandte Chemie

Self-assembly has been relied upon for molecular alignment in many advanced technological applications. However,a lthough effective,i ti si nherently limited in its capability for optimization. Despite the potential benefits,t he seemingly fundamental strategy of external orientation control has yet to be realized. Herein we demonstrate an approach that allows control of the orientation of small molecules covalently bound to as urface.T he method exploits an alignment relay technique,p assing alignment information through al iquidcrystal medium to small molecules to control surface functionalization events.T he method is technically simple and can be carried out on ab encht op without the need for specialized equipment. Moreover,w ed emonstrate the utility of the resulting surfaces to address two long-standing problems in nanoscience:the sorting and alignment of single-walled carbon nanotubes.T his new method enabled significant alignment of the nanotubes as well as length and diameter sorting.