title: Controllable self-assembly of organic-inorganic amphiphiles containing Dawson polyoxometalate clusters.
abstract: An organic-inorganic molecular hybrid containing the Dawson polyoxometalate, ((C(4)H(9))(4)N)(5)H[P(2)V(3)W(15)O(59)(OCH(2))(3)CNHCOC(15)H(31)], was synthesized and its surfactant-like amphiphilic properties, represented by the formation of bilayer vesicles, were studied in polar solvents. The vesicle size decreases with both decreasing hybrid concentration and with increasing polarity of the solvent, independently. The self-assembly behavior of this hybrid can be controlled by introducing different counterions into the acetonitrile solutions. The addition of ZnCl(2) and NaI can cause a gradual decrease and increase of vesicular sizes, respectively. Tetraalkylammonium bromide is found to disassemble the vesicle assemblies. Moreover, the original counterions of the hybrid can be replaced with protons, resulting in pH-dependent formation of vesicles in aqueous solutions. The hybrid surfactant can further form micro-needle structures in aqueous solutions upon addition of Ca(2+) ions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
authors.forename: Panchao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chullikkattil P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: Baofang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng-Yan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lydon
authors.forename: Mali H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rosnes
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bitterlich
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Leroy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: Tianbo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu