Reversible Micrometer‐Scale Spiral Self‐Assembly in Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymer Film with Controllable Chiral Response

Abstract

The spiral is a fundamental structure in nature and spiral structures with controllable handedness are of increasing interest in the design of new chiroptical materials. In this study, micrometer‐scale spiral structures with reversible chirality were fabricated based on the assembly of a liquid crystalline block copolymer film assisted by enantiopure tartaric acid. Mechanistic insight revealed that the formation of the spiral structures was closely related to the liquid crystalline properties of the major phase of block copolymer under the action of chiral tartaric acid. The chiral spiral structures with controllable handedness were easily erased under ultraviolet light irradiation and restored via thermal annealing. This facile thermal treatment method provides guidance for fabrication of chiral micrometer‐scale spiral structures with adjustable chiral properties.

Three-dimensional artificial chirality towards low-cost and ultra-sensitive enantioselective sensing

“…35 The morphologies of block copolymers depend on the thermal equilibrium condition with respect to the volume fraction of monomer blocks. Thus, various morphologies, such as lamellae and cylinders, and even chiral geometries, like gyroid, 36,37 spiral, 38–40 toroid, 41 and helix, can be obtained by exploiting phase separation and reconstructions of block copolymers. For example (Fig.…”

Mechanical Manipulation of Archimedean Spirals of an Achiral Pyrazinacene for Chiral Assemblies

“…For example, organization processes leading to ring-shaped and extended nanostructures triggered by chemical stimuli, thermal or solvent annealing indicate the excellent potential of these supramolecular materials. [2,3] The self-assembly process can also be controlled by directing molecular interactions through programming of molecular structure. Major interactions include hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions in amphiphiles, hydrogen bonding, ion pairing, van der Waals interaction, and aromatic π-stacking, among others.…”