Structural factors controlling the self-assembly of columnar liquid crystals

A series of disc-shaped molecules were prepared by the condensation of 1,2-diamines with 2,3,6,7-tetrakis(hexyloxy)phenanthrene-9,10-dione to investigate the relationship between changes in molecular structure and the self-assembly of columnar liquid crystalline phases. A comparison of compounds with different core sizes indicated that molecules with larger aromatic cores had a greater propensity to form columnar phases, as did compounds substituted with electron-withdrawing groups. In contrast, molecules with electron-donating substituents were nonmesogenic. The clearing temperature of columnar phases increased linearly with the electron-withdrawing ability of the substituents, as quantified by Hammett sigma-values. The observed trends can be rationalized in terms of the strength of pi-pi interactions between aromatic cores in the liquid crystalline phases and suggest that both electrostatic interactions and dispersion forces play important roles in the self-assembly of these materials.     

Fabrication of sulfonated mesoporous carbon by evaporation induced self-assembly/carbonization approach and its supercapacitive properties

Synthesis of functionalized mesoporous carbon by an easy-accessed method is of great importance towards its practical applications.Herein,an evaporation induced self-assembly/carbonization(EISAC) method was developed and applied to the synthesis of sulfonic acid group functionalized mesoporous carbon(SMC).The final mesoporous carbon obtained by EISAC method possesses wormlike mesoporous structure,uniform pore size(3.6 nm),large surface area of 735 m²/g,graphitic pore walls and rich sulfonic acid group.Moreover,the resultant mesoporous carbon achieves a superior electrochemical capacitive performances(216 F/g)to phenolic resin derived mesoporous carbon(OMC,152 F/g)and commercial activated carbon(AC,119 F/g).     

On the kinetics of nanoparticle self-assembly at liquid/liquid interfaces

We investigate the concentration and size dependent self-assembly of cadmium selenide nanoparticles at an oil/water interface. Using a pendant drop tensiometer, we monitor the assembly kinetics and evaluate the effective diffusion coefficients following changes in the interfacial tension for the early and late stages of nanoparticle adsorption. Comparison with the coefficients for free diffusion reveals the energy barrier for particle segregation to the interface. The formation of a nanoparticle monolayer at the oil/water interface is characterised by transmission electron microscopy.     

On the evaporation and motion of a volatile droplet near a volatile liquid surface

A problem concerning the free evaporation or condensation growth of a droplet near an infinite planar surface of the same liquid is solved. The behavior of the droplet is considered at vapor temperature and concentration gradients preset at an infinite distance from it. The boundary conditions take into account effects that are linear with respect to the Knudsen number. Equations are derived for the rate of variations in the radius of the droplet and the velocity of its steady motion induced by nonuniform temperature and concentration of the vapor. Dependences of the rate of variations in the radius and the velocity of the steady motion of the droplet on the distance from the planar surface are presented for a droplet 1 ??m in radius suspended in air.     

Adsorption and self-assembly of octyl hydroxamic acid at a fluorite surface as revealed by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy

In the study described here, the surface structure of a self-assembly octyl hydroxamic acid at a calcium fluoride (CaF(2)) surface is evaluated using sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). Of particular significance are the results that show octyl hydroxamic acid adsorbs at the fluorite surface from octanol solution and has more ordering and molecular conformation than the octyl hydroxamic acid adsorbed from solution. At the fluorite/0.1 M octyl hydroxamic acid octanol solution interface a bilayer-like structure consisting of an octyl hydroxamic acid layer in contact with fluorite and a tilted alcohol layer was observed by SFVS. The alcohol molecules are oriented with respect to the hydroxamic acid monolayer with the OH groups directed towards the bulk alcohol phase and the terminal CH(3) group oriented to face the alkyl chains of the hydroxamic acid monolayer.     

Two-dimensional self-assembly of linear molecular rods at the liquid/solid interface

We report on the synthesis and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of a series of linear molecular rods (1-5) comprising different numbers and/or spatial arrangements of perfluorinated benzene and benzene subunits interlinked with diacetylenes in the para position and decorated with or without terminal dodecyl chains. The molecules organize themselves into well-ordered 2D crystal structures at the liquid/solid interface through intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions. Whereas the molecules substituted by dodecyl chains form the lamellar structures with alternating rigid core rows and alkyl chain rows, the unsubstituted ones change the orientation of the rigid backbones with respect to the lamellar axis. The molecular arrangement is not influenced by fluoro substituents on any phenyl ring of the backbone, which suggests that the interactions between the π-conjugated backbones are dominated by close packing rather than by the dipole moments of the rods or fluorine-based intermolecular interactions.     

Rapid free energy calculation of peptide self-assembly by REMD umbrella sampling

We extend umbrella sampling with replica exchange steps to calculate free energies that are important in the self-assembly of peptides. This leads to a more than 10-fold speed up over conventional umbrella sampling, thereby providing a practical method to calculate these free-energy differences. This approach can also observe first-order phase transitions and pinpoint the location of the concomitant boundary. When conformational changes are involved, this method can handle peptides up to approximately 7 residues, providing a rapid and accurate assessment of the thermodynamic properties of model systems, and can thus be used to answer fundamental questions about peptide self-assembly. When no major conformational changes are involved, we expect the size limit to be equal to that of standard molecular dynamics.     

Porphyrin self-assembly at electrochemical interfaces: role of potential modulated surface mobility

The self-assembly of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TPyP) on Au(111) electrodes was investigated. The adlayer structure was found to depend on the electrode potential. At positive potentials (>0.5V(SCE)), a disordered layer of TPyP is formed on the Au(111) electrode. STM images showed that the disordered molecules are immobile. At negative potentials (-0.2V(SCE)), however, the molecules are highly mobile and can no longer be imaged by STM, though they remain on the surface. At intermediate potentials (-0.2 to +0.2V(SCE)), the TPyP formed a highly ordered adlayer. Once the ordered adlayer is formed, it persists even after the potential is stepped to higher values (0.5-0.8 V(SCE)). These results can be explained by the role of potential modulated adsorbate-substrate interaction and surface mobility. This suggests the intriguing prospect of using electrode potential to tune surface interactions and to drive surface processes, e.g., molecular self-assembly, in electrochemical systems.     

改进的QuEChERS结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定地表水中双酚类物质

建立了同时测定地表水中8种双酚类物质(BPs)的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)分析方法.方法 基于QuEChERS处理技术,选用乙酸乙酯为提取剂,从基质效应(ME)和萃取回收率(RE)两方面对过程效率(PE)进行优化,确定了50 mg N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)和50 mg石墨化炭黑(GCB)混合吸附剂...     

Grazing incidence X-ray scattering to probe the self-assembly of phthalocyanine nanorods on a liquid surface

The structural properties of Langmuir monolayers on aqueous substrates of a metal free phthalocyanine, 2,9,16,23-tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine and an Aluminum centered phthalocyanine, Aluminum 2,9,16,23-tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine chloride are reported here. Their structure is investigated under progressive lateral compression by grazing incidence diffuse X-ray scattering out of the specular plane to determine specular reflectivity-like information where the phase change of the molecules from "flat-lying" on the surface to "edge-standing" perpendicular to the surface was directly observed. Furthermore grazing incident X-ray diffraction is used to investigate the in-plane ordering of the system where it has been found that at high density states the systems can be considered as monolayers consisting of arrays of side-by-side cofacially aggregated cylindrical rodlike entities.     

Unraveling the mechanism of nanotube formation by chiral self-assembly of amphiphiles

The self-assembly of nanotubes from chiral amphiphiles and peptide mimics is still poorly understood. Here, we present the first complete path to nanotubes by chiral self-assembly studied with C(12)-β(12) (N-α-lauryl-lysyl-aminolauryl-lysyl-amide), a molecule designed to have unique hybrid architecture. Using the technique of direct-imaging cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), we show the time-evolution from micelles of C(12)-β(12) to closed nanotubes, passing through several types of one-dimensional (1-D) intermediates such as elongated fibrils, twisted ribbons, and coiled helical ribbons. Scattering and diffraction techniques confirm that the fundamental unit is a monolayer lamella of C(12)-β(12), with the hydrophobic tails in the gel state and β-sheet arrangement. The lamellae are held together by a combination of hydrophobic interactions, and two sets of hydrogen-bonding networks, supporting C(12)-β(12) monomers assembly into fibrils and associating fibrils into ribbons. We further show that neither the "growing width" model nor the "closing pitch" model accurately describe the process of nanotube formation, and both ribbon width and pitch grow with maturation. Additionally, our data exclusively indicate that twisted ribbons are the precursors for coiled ribbons, and the latter structures give rise to nanotubes, and we show chirality is a key requirement for nanotube formation.     

Supramolecular self-assembly of polypseudorotaxanes in ionic liquid

The polypseudorotaxanes (PPRs) have been prepared by supramolecular self-assembly of β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) threaded onto the triblock copolymers (Pluronic F127) in an ionic liquid [1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF₆)] with two different manners. Structural characterizations of the assembled PPRs are carried out in detail respectively with XRD, ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, ¹H NMR and DSC techniques. The results obtained indicate a channel-type crystalline structure for such produced inclusion complexes (ICs). Which one will finally be included inside β-CD, F127 or bmimPF₆, is related to the ethanol amount around the initially β-CD/bmimPF₆ ICs. At higher ethanol concentration, F127 may squeeze bmimPF₆ molecules out from β-CD and thread themselves instead into the cavity of β-CD and finally precipitate with more CDs being stacked.     

Rapid self-assembly of uranyl polyhedra into crown clusters

Clusters built from 32 uranyl peroxide polyhedra self-assemble and crystallize within 15 min after combining uranyl nitrate, ammonium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution under ambient conditions. These novel crown-shaped clusters are remarkable in that they form so quickly, have extraordinarily low aqueous solubility, form with at least two distinct peroxide to hydroxyl ratios, and form in very high yield. The clusters, which have outer diameters of 23 ?, topologically consist of eight pentagons and four hexagons. Their rapid formation and low solubility in aqueous systems may be useful properties at various stages in an advanced nuclear energy system.     

Ion gels by self-assembly of a triblock copolymer in an ionic liquid

We report a new way of developing ion gels through the self-assembly of a triblock copolymer in a room-temperature ionic liquid. Transparent ion gels were achieved by gelation of a poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide-block-styrene) (SOS) triblock copolymer in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) with as low as 5 wt % SOS triblock copolymer. The gelation behavior, ionic conductivity, rheological properties, and microstructure of the ion gels were investigated. The ionic conductivity of the ion gels is only modestly affected by the triblock copolymer network. Its temperature dependence nearly tracks that of the bulk ionic liquid viscosity. The ion gels are thermally stable up to at least 100 degrees C and possess significant mechanical strength. The results presented here suggest that triblock copolymer gelation is a promising way to develop highly conductive ion gels and provides many advantages in terms of variety and processing.