Single-handed helical carbonaceous nanotubes prepared using a pair of cationic low molecular weight gelators. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Huayan; Wang, Qing; Guo, Yongmin; Li, Baozong; Li, Yi; Yang, Yonggang
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 80(2016)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: A. Amorphous materials -- A. Nanostructures -- A. Organic compounds -- B. Sol-gel chemistry -- B. Optical properties; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2016.04.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: 3-aminophenol-formaldeyde resins were prepared through a templating method. A pair of cationic gelators have been used as the templates. Single-handed helical carbonaceous nanotubes were obtained after carbonization. The carbonaceous nanotubes showed optical activity. Abstract: We design a facile route to obtain enantiopure carbonaceous nanostructures, which have potential application as chiral sensors, electromagnetic wave absorbers, and asymmetric catalysts. A pair of cationic low molecular weight gelators was synthesized, which were able to self-assemble into twisted nanoribbons in ethanol at a concentration of 20 g L −1 at 25 °C. Single-handed helical 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin nanotubes with optical activity were prepared using the self-assembly of the low molecular weight gelators as templates. After carbonization, single-handed helical carbonaceous nanotubes were obtained and characterized using circular dichroism, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the walls of the nanotubes are amorphous carbon. Moreover, the left- and right-handed helical nanotubes exhibit opposite optical activity.