Abstract
This review article gives an overview of our recent discovery that a Gemini-shaped hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) amphiphile (1) and its derivatives undergo highly controlled self-assembly to form a new family of nanotubes that may be called ‘graphite’ nanotubes. Compound 1 possesses hydrophilic triethylene glycol (TEG) chains on one side of the HBC core and hydrophobic dodecyl side chains on the other. The nanotubes are characterized by uniform diameter and wall thickness, a large aspect ratio, and designable inner and outer surfaces. Furthermore, they possess a helical chirality. In fact, under certain conditions, a coiled assembly, which is a kinetically preferred product, is formed temporarily and then transforms, on annealing, into a tubular assembly. Furthermore, HBC derivatives bearing a stereogenic center can form coiled and tubular assemblies with a one-handed helical chirality. Analogous to compound 1, HBC amphiphiles carrying functional groups at the TEG termini self-assemble in a highly controlled manner, affording surface-functional nanotubes. As one of the ideal designs for photovoltaic materials with a nanometric size regime, photoconductive nanotubes with a coaxial configuration of the donor/acceptor heterojunction is highlighted.
