title: Mask-Like Symmetrical Microclusters through a Diffusion-Limited Assembly Approach.
abstract: A diffusion-limited assembly approach was explored to fabricate symmetrical [Cu(Succinate)]n microclusters with a different shape and size for the first time. The molecular structure of succinate and its coordination reaction capability towards copper(II) ions governed the one-dimensional growth of the nanofibers and the concomitant formation of the microclusters. In detail, a symmetrical concentration gradient was formed around the endpoints of the nanofibers caused by the diffusion-limited process at high reactant concentrations. The concentration gradient forced the nanofibers to grow divergently and further aggregate into open microcluster structure. The shape and size of the microclusters could be tuned by altering the concentration of the reactants. Particularly, mask-like double-hole symmetrical microclusters (MDHSMs) were obtained when the concentration of both reactants was as high as 140 mM. The resultant MDHSMs showed high selectivity in adsorption of dyes and proteins, and may find potential applications in water treatment, bioseparation, and immobilization of biomacromolecules.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China).|Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China).|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China).
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China).|Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China).|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China).
authors.forename: Chunyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China).
authors.forename: Yufei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China).|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China).|School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China).
authors.forename: Jiafu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China).|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China).
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China). spzhang@ipe.ac.cn.|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China). spzhang@ipe.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Songping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China). zhyjiang@tju.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China). zhyjiang@tju.edu.cn.|Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072 (China). zhyjiang@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
keywords: adsorption; coordination; copper; nanostructures; self-assembly