Dynamic supramolecular nanosheet structures formed by aromatic amphiphiles and their functions

Abstract

Supramolecular nanostructures based on the self-assembly of aromatic amphiphiles have received considerable attention because these structures based on non-covalent interactions can be dynamic, leading to switchable nanomaterials in response to external stimuli. The self-assembled materials combine the simplicity of small molecules with the versatility of self-assembly, with a wide range of applications proposed in biomedicine, nanotechnology, etc. Among the diverse self-assembled nanostructures, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet structures are promising objects in the materials science field due to their ultrathin, large surface areas. Much research effort has been devoted to the study of 2D nanosheet structures based on diverse shapes and conformations of the aromatic segments. This review describes recent progress in the development of nanosheet structures through the self-assembly of rationally designed π-conjugated aromatic amphiphile building blocks. Potential applications, such as chiral separation and biological application, are also discussed. Various views on 2D nanosheet structures have been proposed in the literature, and in this respect, we have attempted to provide a systematic account based on our research progress in recent years. We hope that this will provide a useful reference for 2D nanosheet structures formed by the rational design of aromatic amphiphile self-assembly. We also anticipate that this strategy will provide an opportunity for broadening the application potential of 2D nanosheet structures.