scholarly journals Accelerated Reaction Rates within Self-Assembled Polymer Nanoreactors with Tunable Hydrophobic Microenvironments

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1774
Author(s):  
Andrew Harrison ◽  
Michael P. Zeevi ◽  
Christopher L. Vasey ◽  
Matthew D. Nguyen ◽  
Christina Tang
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Noncovalent Interactions ◽  
Hydrophobic Effect ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
Polymer Micelle ◽  
Amphiphilic Macromolecules ◽  
Multiple Reactions ◽  
Self Assembled

Performing reactions in the presence of self-assembled hierarchical structures of amphiphilic macromolecules can accelerate reactions while using water as the bulk solvent due to the hydrophobic effect. We leveraged non-covalent interactions to self-assemble filled-polymer micelle nanoreactors (NR) incorporating gold nanoparticle catalysts into various amphiphilic polymer nanostructures with comparable hydrodynamic nanoreactor size and gold concentration in the nanoreactor dispersion. We systematically studied the effect of the hydrophobic co-precipitant on self-assembly and catalytic performance. We observed that co-precipitants that interact with gold are beneficial for improving incorporation efficiency of the gold nanoparticles into the nanocomposite nanoreactor during self-assembly but decrease catalytic performance. Hierarchical assemblies with co-precipitants that leverage noncovalent interactions could enhance catalytic performance. For the co-precipitants that do not interact strongly with gold, the catalytic performance was strongly affected by the hydrophobic microenvironment of the co-precipitant. Specifically, the apparent reaction rate per surface area using castor oil (CO) was over 8-fold greater than polystyrene (750 g/mol, PS 750); the turnover frequency was higher than previously reported self-assembled polymer systems. The increase in apparent catalytic performance could be attributed to differences in reactant solubility rather than differences in mass transfer or intrinsic kinetics; higher reactant solubility enhances apparent reaction rates. Full conversion of 4-nitrophenol was achieved within three minutes for at least 10 sequential reactions demonstrating that the nanoreactors could be used for multiple reactions.

Embedding of a ruthenium(ii) water oxidation catalyst into nanofibers via self-assembly

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Kunz ◽  
Vladimir Stepanenko ◽  
Frank Würthner
Keyword(s):  
Water Splitting ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Water Oxidation ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
Oxidation Catalyst ◽  
Self Assembled

Self-assembled nanofibers of a ruthenium(ii)–PBI complex exhibited an appreciable catalytic performance in the oxidative water splitting reaction.

Study of the effect of polymorphism on the self-assembly and catalytic performance of an l-proline based molecular hydrogelator

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 3785-3791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Díaz-Oltra ◽  
Cristina Berdugo ◽  
Juan F. Miravet ◽  
Beatriu Escuder
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Aldol Reaction ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
The Self ◽  
Direct Aldol Reaction ◽  
Self Assembled

Polymorphs of a self-assembled proline-based catalyst lead to different catalytic results in a direct aldol reaction.

Biomimetic materials: An introduction

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1020-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sarikaya ◽  
J. T. Staley ◽  
I. A. Aksay
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Structural Control ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Ceramic Composites ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Biomimetic Materials ◽  
Synthetic Materials ◽  
All Ceramic

Biomimetics is an area of research in which the analysis of structures and functions of natural materials provide a source of inspiration for design and processing concepts for novel synthetic materials. Through biomimetics, it may be possible to establish structural control on a continuous length scale, resulting in superior structures able to withstand the requirements placed upon advanced materials. It is well recognized that biological systems efficiently produce complex and hierarchical structures on the molecular, micrometer, and macro scales with unique properties, and with greater structural control than is possible with synthetic materials. The dynamism of these systems allows the collection and transport of constituents; the nucleation, configuration, and growth of new structures by self-assembly; and the repair and replacement of old and damaged components. These materials include all-organic components such as spider webs and insect cuticles (Fig. 1); inorganic-organic composites, such as seashells (Fig. 2) and bones; all-ceramic composites, such as sea urchin teeth, spines, and other skeletal units (Fig. 3); and inorganic ultrafine magnetic and semiconducting particles produced by bacteria and algae, respectively (Fig. 4).

Nanoscale Self-Assembly Using Ion and Electron Beam Techniques: A Rapid Review

MRS Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (64) ◽  
pp. 3507-3520
Author(s):  
Chunhui Dai ◽  
Kriti Agarwal ◽  
Jeong-Hyun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Self ◽  
Stress Generation ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
High Yield ◽  
3D Nanostructures ◽  
Self Assembled

AbstractNanoscale self-assembly, as a technique to transform two-dimensional (2D) planar patterns into three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale architectures, has achieved tremendous success in the past decade. However, an assembly process at nanoscale is easily affected by small unavoidable variations in sample conditions and reaction environment, resulting in a low yield. Recently, in-situ monitored self-assembly based on ion and electron irradiation has stood out as a promising candidate to overcome this limitation. The usage of ion and electron beam allows stress generation and real-time observation simultaneously, which significantly enhances the controllability of self-assembly. This enables the realization of various complex 3D nanostructures with a high yield. The additional dimension of the self-assembled 3D nanostructures opens the possibility to explore novel properties that cannot be demonstrated in 2D planar patterns. Here, we present a rapid review on the recent achievements and challenges in nanoscale self-assembly using electron and ion beam techniques, followed by a discussion of the novel optical properties achieved in the self-assembled 3D nanostructures.

Self-Assembly of a Chiral Cubic Three-Connected Net from the High Symmetry Molecules C60 and SnI4

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Straus ◽  
Robert J. Cava
Keyword(s):  
Organic Synthesis ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Van Der Waals ◽  
Van Der Waals Forces ◽  
High Symmetry ◽  
Molecular Chirality ◽  
Chiral Materials ◽  
Self Assembled ◽  
Chiral Centers

The design of new chiral materials usually requires stereoselective organic synthesis to create molecules with chiral centers. Less commonly, achiral molecules can self-assemble into chiral materials, despite the absence of intrinsic molecular chirality. Here, we demonstrate the assembly of high-symmetry molecules into a chiral van der Waals structure by synthesizing crystals of C<sub>60</sub>(SnI<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> from icosahedral buckminsterfullerene (C<sub>60</sub>) and tetrahedral SnI4 molecules through spontaneous self-assembly. The SnI<sub>4</sub> tetrahedra template the Sn atoms into a chiral cubic three-connected net of the SrSi<sub>2</sub> type that is held together by van der Waals forces. Our results represent the remarkable emergence of a self-assembled chiral material from two of the most highly symmetric molecules, demonstrating that almost any molecular, nanocrystalline, or engineered precursor can be considered when designing chiral assemblies.

scholarly journals Nano- and Micropatterning on Optical Fibers by Bottom-Up Approach: The Importance of Being Ordered

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3254
Author(s):  
Marco Pisco ◽  
Francesco Galeotti
Keyword(s):  
Optical Fiber ◽  
Optical Fibers ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Ordered Structures ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Photonic Structures ◽  
Fiber Technology ◽  
Optical Fiber Probes ◽  
Fiber Probes ◽  
Self Assembled

The realization of advanced optical fiber probes demands the integration of materials and structures on optical fibers with micro- and nanoscale definition. Although researchers often choose complex nanofabrication tools to implement their designs, the migration from proof-of-principle devices to mass production lab-on-fiber devices requires the development of sustainable and reliable technology for cost-effective production. To make it possible, continuous efforts are devoted to applying bottom-up nanofabrication based on self-assembly to decorate the optical fiber with highly ordered photonic structures. The main challenges still pertain to “order” attainment and the limited number of implementable geometries. In this review, we try to shed light on the importance of self-assembled ordered patterns for lab-on-fiber technology. After a brief presentation of the light manipulation possibilities concerned with ordered structures, and of the new prospects offered by aperiodically ordered structures, we briefly recall how the bottom-up approach can be applied to create ordered patterns on the optical fiber. Then, we present un-attempted methodologies, which can enlarge the set of achievable structures, and can potentially improve the yielding rate in finely ordered self-assembled optical fiber probes by eliminating undesired defects and increasing the order by post-processing treatments. Finally, we discuss the available tools to quantify the degree of order in the obtained photonic structures, by suggesting the use of key performance figures of merit in order to systematically evaluate to what extent the pattern is really “ordered”. We hope such a collection of articles and discussion herein could inspire new directions and hint at best practices to fully exploit the benefits inherent to self-organization phenomena leading to ordered systems.

scholarly journals Metal Oxide-Related Dendritic Structures: Self-Assembly and Applications for Sensor, Catalysis, Energy Conversion and Beyond

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1686
Author(s):  
Ruohong Sui ◽  
Paul A. Charpentier ◽  
Robert A. Marriott
Keyword(s):  
Metal Oxide ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
The Self ◽  
Assembly Process ◽  
Electronic Noses ◽  
Dendritic Nanostructures ◽  
Energy Conversion And Storage ◽  
The Aesthetic

In the past two decades, we have learned a great deal about self-assembly of dendritic metal oxide structures, partially inspired by the nanostructures mimicking the aesthetic hierarchical structures of ferns and corals. The self-assembly process involves either anisotropic polycondensation or molecular recognition mechanisms. The major driving force for research in this field is due to the wide variety of applications in addition to the unique structures and properties of these dendritic nanostructures. Our purpose of this minireview is twofold: (1) to showcase what we have learned so far about how the self-assembly process occurs; and (2) to encourage people to use this type of material for drug delivery, renewable energy conversion and storage, biomaterials, and electronic noses.

scholarly journals Self-assembled interpenetrating networks by orthogonal self assembly of surfactants and hydrogelators

2009 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelie M. Brizard ◽  
Marc C. A. Stuart ◽  
Jan H. van Esch
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Interpenetrating Networks ◽  
Self Assembled

scholarly journals Polymer cyclization for the emergence of hierarchical nanostructures

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaojian Chen ◽  
Manjesh Kumar Singh ◽  
Katrin Wunderlich ◽  
Sean Harvey ◽  
Colette J. Whitfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Structural Similarity ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Nanomaterial Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Linear Poly ◽  
Polymer Folding ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractThe creation of synthetic polymer nanoobjects with well-defined hierarchical structures is important for a wide range of applications such as nanomaterial synthesis, catalysis, and therapeutics. Inspired by the programmability and precise three-dimensional architectures of biomolecules, here we demonstrate the strategy of fabricating controlled hierarchical structures through self-assembly of folded synthetic polymers. Linear poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) of different lengths are folded into cyclic polymers and their self-assembly into hierarchical structures is elucidated by various experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Based on their structural similarity, macrocyclic brush polymers with amphiphilic block side chains are synthesized, which can self-assemble into wormlike and higher-ordered structures. Our work points out the vital role of polymer folding in macromolecular self-assembly and establishes a versatile approach for constructing biomimetic hierarchical assemblies.

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