Symmetry Breaking in Self-Assembled Nanoassemblies

Yutao Sang,Minghua Liu

doi:10.3390/sym11080950

Abstract

The origin of biological homochirality, e.g., life selects the L-amino acids and D-sugar as molecular component, still remains a big mystery. It is suggested that mirror symmetry breaking plays an important role. Recent researches show that symmetry breaking can also occur at a supramolecular level, where the non-covalent bond was crucial. In these systems, equal or unequal amount of the enantiomeric nanoassemblies could be formed from achiral molecules. In this paper, we presented a brief overview regarding the symmetry breaking from dispersed system to gels, solids, and at interfaces. Then we discuss the rational manipulation of supramolecular chirality on how to induce and control the homochirality in the self-assembly system. Those physical control methods, such as Viedma ripening, hydrodynamic macro- and micro-vortex, superchiral light, and the combination of these technologies, are specifically discussed. It is hoped that the symmetry breaking at a supramolecular level could provide useful insights into the understanding of natural homochirality and further designing as well as controlling of functional chiral materials.

Highlights

Chirality is one of the fundamental properties found in nature and vital in many fields, including chemistry, physics, biochemistry, pharmacy, and materials science [1,2,3,4,5]
Symmetry breaking in self-assembled systems is an interesting phenomenon leading to an understanding of the homochirality in a biological system and providing an important method towards the construction of functional chiral materials, which significantly extend the potential applications of achiral building blocks
This review provides a summary and discussion of symmetry breaking based on the diverse systems from solution, interfaces to solids and gels

Summary

Introduction

Chirality is one of the fundamental properties found in nature and vital in many fields, including chemistry, physics, biochemistry, pharmacy, and materials science [1,2,3,4,5]. While in most of the cases, an equal amount of the right and left-handed assemblies appeared from achiral molecules, predominant chiral aggregates have been found While these systems are interesting, a great challenge remains in controlling the supramolecular chirality or achieving the homochiral assemblies from the stochastic distributions. We pay more attention to the manipulation of supramolecular chirality in the self-assembled systems by physical or chemical ways such as adding chiral dopants, applying Viedma ripening, hydrodynamic macro- and micro-vortex, superchiral light, and the combination of these technologies. Those physical control ways are mostly discussed

Symmetry Breaking in Self-Assembly Systems

Symmetry

Selection and Control of Supramolecular Chirality during Symmetry Breaking

Findings

Conclusions