Surface-aided supramolecular polymerization: A route to controlled nanoscale assemblies

The surface-aided supermolecular polymerization of ditopic monomers at atmospheric pressure from an aqueous environment that results in nanoscale self-assemblies was studies. The observed nanosized banding patterns in these assemblies have widths that could be controlled by simple molecular design. The self-assembly was directed by a combination of nucleobase hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic effects that encompassed both adsorbate-adsorbate surface interactions. Surface-ordering effects can result in the supermolecular polymerization of di-topic weakly binding guanine end-capped monomers with alkyl cores from aqueous solutions. It was observed that the polymeric aggregates result in the formation of stable nanostructures at a length scale of less than 5 nm. It was also observed that the widths of banding patterns can be tailored at the nanometer level by molecular design of the monomer, and the mixing of different-nanosized monomers results in the formation of more complex assemblies.