Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2017) | Viewed by 40530

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chirality Group, Biomedical Science Program, School of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Interests: chirality; enantioselective nano chromatography; asymmetric catalysis; chiral analysis
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Guest Editor
Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, 5211401 Ramat Gan, Israel
Interests: nanomaterial synthesis; nanomaterial characterization; nanoscale chirality; nanosurfaces; chiral self-assembled monolayers (SAMs); polymeric chiral nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials” highlights innovative research from around the world focusing on harnessing the physical, chemical, and topological properties/characteristics of chiral nanomaterials and chirality in the nanometer range (~1–100 nm).

We aim for this Special Issue to cover up-to-date achievements and future perspectives in the field of chiral nanomaterials. Contributions to this Special Issue can cover all aspects of chirality and nanomaterials, including synthesis and applications of chiral nanomaterials in their different forms, namely chiral organic nanoparticles, chiral fibers, chiral nanotubes, chiral monolayers, chiral films, chiral polymers, and chiral nanoporous solids.

On the other hand, chiral nano inorganic materials, including metals, semiconductors, silica based, metal oxide, and chiral hybrid nanostructures are discussed. Special emphasis will be given to optically active quantum dots (QDs) and their potential applications, ranging from chiral sensing to asymmetric catalysis applications and to novel physicochemical characterization of chiral nanomaterials. The opportunities arising from the use of such special characteristics are tremendous and highlighted within the volume.

Prof. Dr. Ashraf Ghanem
Prof. Dr. Yitzhak Mastai
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Chiral Nanomaterials
  • Chiral surfaces
  • Molecular recognition
  • Organic and Inorganic chiral nanostructures
  • Asymmetric catalysis
  • Optical properties
  • Enantiospecific separation
  • Nanoporous chiral materials

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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2341 KiB  
Article
Chirality on Amorphous High-Tg Polymeric Nanofilms: Optical Activity Amplification by Thermal Annealing
by Tiziana Benelli, Massimiliano Lanzi, Laura Mazzocchetti and Loris Giorgini
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(8), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7080208 - 1 Aug 2017
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4276
Abstract
The chiroptical properties of amorphous chiral polymers functionalized with conjugated trans-azoaromatic chromophore linked to the backbone through a chiral cyclic pyrrolidine moiety of one single configuration at the solid state, as thin films, were investigated. For the first time nanometric thin films [...] Read more.
The chiroptical properties of amorphous chiral polymers functionalized with conjugated trans-azoaromatic chromophore linked to the backbone through a chiral cyclic pyrrolidine moiety of one single configuration at the solid state, as thin films, were investigated. For the first time nanometric thin films of amorphous polymers (not liquid crystals) showed a remarkable chiral amplification upon thermal treatment at a temperature close to their Tg. The side-chain azobenzene chromophores rearrangement driven by the enhanced chain mobility seems to favor the formation of nanodomains of conformationally ordered macromolecular chains with one prevailing helical handedness whose optical activity depends on the configuration of the intrinsic chirality of the monomeric units and which as a result are stable at room temperature for a long time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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5900 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Self-Assembled Behavior of pH-Responsive Chiral Liquid Crystal Amphiphilic Copolymers Based on Diosgenyl-Functionalized Aliphatic Polycarbonate
by Zhi-Hao Guo, Xiao-Feng Liu, Jian-She Hu, Li-Qun Yang and Zhang-Pei Chen
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(7), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7070169 - 4 Jul 2017
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4996
Abstract
The morphological control of polymer micellar aggregates is an important issue in applications such as nanomedicine and material science. Stimuli responsive soft materials have attracted significant attention for their well-controlled morphologies. However, despite extensive studies, it is still a challenge to prepare nanoscale [...] Read more.
The morphological control of polymer micellar aggregates is an important issue in applications such as nanomedicine and material science. Stimuli responsive soft materials have attracted significant attention for their well-controlled morphologies. However, despite extensive studies, it is still a challenge to prepare nanoscale assemblies with responsive behaviors. Herein, a new chiral liquid crystal (LC) aliphatic polycarbonate with side chain bearing diosgenyl mesogen, named mPEG43-PMCC25-P(MCC-DHO)15, was synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization and coupling reaction. The self-assembled behavior of the LC copolymer was explored. In aqueous solution, the functionalized copolymer could self-organize into different nanostructures with changing pH value, such as nanospheres and nanofibers. This would offer new possibilities in the design of nanostructured organic materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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2710 KiB  
Article
A Homochiral Multifunctional Metal-Organic Framework with Rod-Shaped Secondary Building Units
by Kun Cai, Nian Zhao, Ning Zhang, Fu-Xing Sun, Qing Zhao and Guang-Shan Zhu
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(4), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7040088 - 21 Apr 2017
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5866
Abstract
A new homochiral multifunctional metal-organic framework, [Zn2(CTBA)2·H2O] (JUC-112), was synthesized under solvothermal conditions, through the design of chiral ligand 4-(3-carboxy-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentanecarboxamido) benzoic acid (H2CTBA) based on camphoric acid as building block. The crystal structure of the [...] Read more.
A new homochiral multifunctional metal-organic framework, [Zn2(CTBA)2·H2O] (JUC-112), was synthesized under solvothermal conditions, through the design of chiral ligand 4-(3-carboxy-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentanecarboxamido) benzoic acid (H2CTBA) based on camphoric acid as building block. The crystal structure of the new material is a 2-dimensional (2D) chiral layer packed with infinite rod-shaped secondary building units (SBUs). The homochiral framework was identified by circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. Thermogravimetric measurement indicates its high thermal stability up to 450 °C. In addition, JUC-112 exhibits the capability of separating water from alcohols, second-order nonlinear optical effect, and photoluminescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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Review

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4015 KiB  
Review
Application of Carbon Nanotubes in Chiral and Achiral Separations of Pharmaceuticals, Biologics and Chemicals
by Ayman L. Hemasa, Nenad Naumovski, William A. Maher and Ashraf Ghanem
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(7), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7070186 - 18 Jul 2017
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8029
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique mechanical, physical, electrical and absorbability properties coupled with their nanometer dimensional scale that renders them extremely valuable for applications in many fields including nanotechnology and chromatographic separation. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview [...] Read more.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique mechanical, physical, electrical and absorbability properties coupled with their nanometer dimensional scale that renders them extremely valuable for applications in many fields including nanotechnology and chromatographic separation. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview about the applications of CNTs in chiral and achiral separations of pharmaceuticals, biologics and chemicals. Chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been directly applied for the enantioseparation of pharmaceuticals and biologicals by using them as stationary or pseudostationary phases in chromatographic separation techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and gas chromatography (GC). Achiral MWCNTs have been used for achiral separations as efficient sorbent objects in solid-phase extraction techniques of biochemicals and drugs. Achiral SWCNTs have been applied in achiral separation of biological samples. Achiral SWCNTs and MWCNTs have been also successfully used to separate achiral mixtures of pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Collectively, functionalized CNTs have been indirectly applied in separation science by enhancing the enantioseparation of different chiral selectors whereas non-functionalized CNTs have shown efficient capabilities for chiral separations by using techniques such as encapsulation or immobilization in polymer monolithic columns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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8086 KiB  
Review
Chiral Nanotubes
by Andrea Nitti, Aurora Pacini and Dario Pasini
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(7), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7070167 - 4 Jul 2017
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6146
Abstract
Organic nanotubes, as assembled nanospaces, in which to carry out host–guest chemistry, reversible binding of smaller species for transport, sensing, storage or chemical transformation purposes, are currently attracting substantial interest, both as biological ion channel mimics, or for addressing tailored material properties. Nature’s [...] Read more.
Organic nanotubes, as assembled nanospaces, in which to carry out host–guest chemistry, reversible binding of smaller species for transport, sensing, storage or chemical transformation purposes, are currently attracting substantial interest, both as biological ion channel mimics, or for addressing tailored material properties. Nature’s materials and machinery are universally asymmetric, and, for chemical entities, controlled asymmetry comes from chirality. Together with carbon nanotubes, conformationally stable molecular building blocks and macrocycles have been used for the realization of organic nanotubes, by means of their assembly in the third dimension. In both cases, chiral properties have started to be fully exploited to date. In this paper, we review recent exciting developments in the synthesis and assembly of chiral nanotubes, and of their functional properties. This review will include examples of either molecule-based or macrocycle-based systems, and will try and rationalize the supramolecular interactions at play for the three-dimensional (3D) assembly of the nanoscale architectures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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1624 KiB  
Review
Meta-Chirality: Fundamentals, Construction and Applications
by Xiaoliang Ma, Mingbo Pu, Xiong Li, Yinghui Guo, Ping Gao and Xiangang Luo
Nanomaterials 2017, 7(5), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7050116 - 17 May 2017
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 9548
Abstract
Chiral metamaterials represent a special type of artificial structures that cannot be superposed to their mirror images. Due to the lack of mirror symmetry, cross-coupling between electric and magnetic fields exist in chiral mediums and present unique electromagnetic characters of circular dichroism and [...] Read more.
Chiral metamaterials represent a special type of artificial structures that cannot be superposed to their mirror images. Due to the lack of mirror symmetry, cross-coupling between electric and magnetic fields exist in chiral mediums and present unique electromagnetic characters of circular dichroism and optical activity, which provide a new opportunity to tune polarization and realize negative refractive index. Chiral metamaterials have attracted great attentions in recent years and have given rise to a series of applications in polarization manipulation, imaging, chemical and biological detection, and nonlinear optics. Here we review the fundamental theory of chiral media and analyze the construction principles of some typical chiral metamaterials. Then, the progress in extrinsic chiral metamaterials, absorbing chiral metamaterials, and reconfigurable chiral metamaterials are summarized. In the last section, future trends in chiral metamaterials and application in nonlinear optics are introduced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Chiral Nanomaterials)
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