Recognition competes with hydration in anion-triggered monolayer formation of cyanostar supra-amphiphiles at aqueous interfaces.

ABSTRACT: The triggered self-assembly of surfactants into organized layers at aqueous interfaces is important for creating adaptive nanosystems and understanding selective ion extraction. While these transformations require molecular recognition, the underlying driving forces are modified by the local environment in ways that are not well understood. Herein, we investigate the role of ion binding and ion hydration using cyanosurf, which is composed of the cyanostar macrocycle, and its binding to anions that are either size-matched or mis-matched and either weakly or highly hydrated. We utilize the supra-amphiphile concept where anion binding converts cyanosurf into a charged and amphiphilic complex triggering its self-organization into monolayers at the air-water interface. Initially, cyanosurf form

SUBMITTER: Yan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9006960 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature