Photoresponsive chiral nanotubes of achiral amphiphilic azobenzene

摘要: Supramolecular chirality has generally been fabricated by an aggregation process of chiral building blocks. Herein, we report the fabrication soft nanotubes self-assembly, exclusively from a novel designed achiral carboxylic-substituted bolaamphiphilic azobenzene. Based on studies with UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, plausible mechanism which chirally helical shape emerges nonsymmetric packing molecule proposed. Our results demonstrate valid approach for correlating molecular structure to macroscopic properties, in which, ingenious design, supramolecular can be achieved It was further revealed that morphology self-assembled nanostructures change response external stimuli such as light heat. This should open avenue good understanding ways structural variation affects structures at level. We also find potential applications smart carriers controlled release site-specific targeting loading, modulated environmental stimuli.