Supramolecular Assembly/Reassembly Processes: Molecular Motors and Dynamers operating at surfaces

Artur Ciesielski and Paolo Samorì, London (2011)

Among the many significant advances within the field of supramolecular chemistry over the past decades, the development of the so-called “dynamers” features a direct relevance to materials science. Defined as “combinatorial dynamic polymers”, dynamers are constitutional dynamic systems and materials resulting from the application of the principles of supramolecular chemistry to polymer science. Like supramolecular materials in general, dynamers are reversible dynamic multifunctional architectures, capable of modifying their constitution by exchanging, recombining, incorporating components. They may exhibit a variety of novel properties and behave as adaptive materials. In this review we focus on the design of responsive switchable monolayers, i.e. monolayers capable to undergo significant changes in their physical or chemical properties as a result of external stimuli. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies provides direct evidence with a sub-nanometer resolution, on the formation and dynamic response of these selfassembled systems featuring controlled geometries and properties.

Partners : UdS

Place of Publication : London

Date of Publication : 2011/02/24

Additional Data : Nanoscale, 2011, 3, 1397-1410

Link to the online version of the article.