A Chirality Indicator for the Surfaces of the Silica Nanotubes

作者:Xue Zhen; Zhao Yanwei; Wu Limin; Li Yi; Li Baozong; Wang Minliang; Yang Yonggang*
来源:Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2013, 13(8): 5732-5735.
DOI:10.1166/jnn.2013.7553

摘要

The chirality of the silicas attracted much attention, due to their potential applications in asymmetric catalysis and enantioseparation. However, their chirality has not been well understood. Herein, a chirality indicator for the surfaces of the silica nanotubes was developed. The helical silica nanotubes were prepared through a sol gel transcription approach. The handedness was controlled by that of the self-assemblies of the low-molecular-weight amphiphiles. 4-Triethoxysilyl-1,1'-biphenyl (TSB) was modified on the surfaces of silica nanotubes through covalent bonds. The circular dichroisnn (CD) spectra of the TSB-modified silica nanotubes indicated that the chirality of silica surfaces could be transferred to the twist of the biphenyl rings. The origin of these CD signals was characterized using time-dependent density functional theory.

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