Hierarchical Nanostructures Constructed by Soft Epitaxial Self-Assembly of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Giant Amphiphiles
Journal
Small
ISSN
1613-6810
1613-6829
Date Issued
2024-08-20
Author(s)
Dong‐Gue Kang
Yun‐Bae Kook
In‐Soo Kim
Minwoo Rim
Hyeyoon Ko
Chih‐Hao Hsu
Ki‐Hyun Ryu
Dae‐Yoon Kim
Kwang‐Un Jeong
Abstract
2D nanomaterials with ångström-scale thicknesses offer a unique platform for confining molecules at an unprecedentedly small scale, presenting novel opportunities for modulating material properties and probing microscopic phenomena. In this study, mesogen-tethered polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) amphiphiles with varying numbers of mesogenic tails to systematically influence molecular self-assembly and the architecture of the ensuing supramolecular structures, are synthesized. These organic-inorganic hybrid amphiphiles facilitate precise spatial arrangement and directional alignment of the primary molecular units within highly ordered supramolecular structures. The correlation between molecular design and the formation of superlattices through comprehensive structural analyses, incorporating molecular thermodynamics and kinetics, is explored. The distinct intermolecular interactions of the POSS core and the mesogenic tails drive the preferential formation of a 2D inorganic sublattice while simultaneously guiding the hierarchical assembly of organic lamellae via soft epitaxy. The findings reveal the intricate balance between shape, size, and interaction strengths of the inorganic and organic components, and how these factors collectively influence the structural hierarchy of the superstructures, which consist of multiple sublattices. By controlling this unique molecular behavior, it is possible to modulate or maximize the anisotropy of optical, mechanical, and electrical properties at the sub-nanometer scale for nanotechnology applications.
Subjects
giant surfactants
organic-inorganic hybrid materials
soft epitaxial crystal growth
Publisher
Wiley
Type
journal article