Organized nanostructured complexes of inorganic clusters and surfactants that exhibit thermal solid-state transformations.
Facile organization of the inorganic crown-shaped [Ni(3)P(3)S(12)](3-) ion (1) into room-temperature liquid-crystalline materials by complexation with double-tail ammonium surfactants is achieved by the ionic self-assembly (ISA) route. Small-angle X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and (31)P NMR analyses reveal that these complexes show an interesting solid-state structure transition. Upon heating, the inorganic crown species polymerizes to the inorganic polyelectrolyte infinity [NiPS(4)](-). This structural transition is reversible, and involves a solvent/dissolution cycle. The facile preparation and facile optional induction of phase and structural changes make these complexes candidates for a number of applications in which cooperative, metastable switching with sufficient contrast of optical and solid-state properties is required.
Camerel
Franck
F
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. Charl.Faul@mpikg-golm.mpg.de
Antonietti
Markus
M
Faul
Charl F J
CF