SUPRAMOLECULAR
CHEMISTRY AND
NANOMATERIALS
SUBMITTED BY – ASWATHY PILLAI D
B.Sc (Hons.) Chemistry
Reg.No. – 15BSCN010
SUBMITTED TO- Dr. POONAM HARIYANI
(ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT)
JECRC UNIVERSITY
SUPRAMOLECULAR
CHEMISTRY
 Supramolecular chemistry is 'chemistry beyond the molecule
 'Important concepts that have been demonstrated by supramolecular
chemistry include molecular self-assembly, folding, molecular
recognition, host-guest chemistry, mechanically-interlocked molecular
architectures, and dynamic covalent chemistry.
 The importance of supramolecular chemistry was established by the
1987 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, which was awarded to Donald J. Cram,
Jean-Marie Lehn, and Charles J. Pedersen in recognition of their work
in the field.
 The complementary nature of supramolecular chemistry and
nanotechnology is considered.
 . While traditional chemistry focuses on the covalent bond,
supramolecular chemistry examines the weaker and reversible
noncovalent interactions between molecules. These forces include
hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, hydrophobic forces, van der
Waals forces, pi-pi interactions and electrostatic effects.
 . Important concepts that have been demonstrated by supramolecular
chemistry include molecular self-assembly, folding, molecular recognition,
host-guest chemistry, mechanically-interlocked molecular architectures,
and dynamic covalent chemistry.
 EXAMPLES – Cyclodextrin , cyclophane ,calixarene ,cryptophane ,
protein,.etc.
 Molecular recognition plays an important role in biological systems and is
observed in between receptor-ligand, antigen-antibody, DNA-protein, sugarlectin, RNA-ribosome, etc. An important example of molecular recognition is
the antibiotic vancomycin that selectively binds with the peptides with
terminal D-alanyl-D-alanine in bacterial cells through five hydrogen bonds. The
vancomycin is lethal to the bacteria since once it has bound to these particular
peptides they are unable to be used to construct the bacteria’s cell wall.
 Molecular self-assembly underlies the construction of biologic macromolecular
assemblies in living organisms, and so is crucial to the function of cells. It is
exhibited in the self-assembly of lipids to form the membrane, the formation
of double helical DNA through hydrogen bonding of the individual strands, and
the assembly of proteins to form quaternary structures.
 Molecular self-assembly of nanoscale structures plays a role in the growth of
the remarkable β-keratin lamellae/setae/spatulae structures used to give
geckos the ability to climb walls and adhere to ceilings and rock overhangs.
PROPERTIES OF SUPRAMOLECULAR STRUCTURES –
• The host has more than one binding site like O, S, N etc.
• Complementarity
• Complexes with a large number of bonds between the complementary host and guest
have a high structural organisation.
e.g. DNA molecule
EXAMPLES-
Scope - Supramolecular chemistry studies the phenomena such
as molecular selfassembly, protein folding, molecular recognition, host-guest chemistry, mechanicallyinterlocked molecular architectures, and dynamic covalent chemistry. It is highly
interdisciplinary in nature and attracts not just chemists but biologists, environmental
scientists, physicists, biochemists, theoreticians, crystallographers .
Application Of Supramolecular Chemistry –
1. In transport process
2. In medicines
3. In supramolecular catalysis
4. In nanotechnology and molecular devices.
5. Data storage and processing .
6. Materials Technology
Nanotechnology
 The collaboration of the physics , chemistry, biology, computer and material sciences
integrated with engineering entering the nanoscale.
 This means science and engineering focused on making the particles ,things and devices at the
atomic and molecular scale.
 It deals with creation of functional materials , devices , systems through control of matter on
Nanoscale.
 Nanomaterial is an object that has atleast one dimension in the nanometer scale approximately
1-100nm.
 Note: Richard Feynman is known as the father of nanotechnology.
SCOPE - Due to the increasing technological advances, the study of materials in the nanometre
scale is becoming more important. The spatial arrangements of these self-assembled nanoparticles
can be potentially used to build increasingly complex structures leading to a wide variety of
materials that can be used for different purposes.
PROPERTIES OF NANOPARTICLES –
 MAGNETIC PROPERTY –
a. Due to magnetic property they are used in imaging, bioprocessing , refrigeration as well as
high density magnetic memory media .
b. At nano size gold and platinum act as magnetic particle. Eg. Au nanoparticle becomes
ferromagnetic when kept with appropriate molecules of thiol.
 OPTICAL PROPERTY –
a. The optical emission occurs when the transition of the electrons occur between HOMO and
LUMO ( essentially the conduction band ).
b. Semiconductor and many metals show large changes in optical properties such as color , as a
function of particle size.
c. Colloidal suspenses of gold and silver change their color depending on their size.
 ELECTRIC PROPERTY –
a. Nanowires and nanotubes are the most confining electrical conductors – puts the sqeeze
on electrons .
b. Can be defect free – electrons move “ballistically”.
 MECHANICAL PROPERTY – Small enough to be defect free , thus exhibiting ideal
strength .
 THERMAL PROPERTY – Can be designed to conduct heat.
 CHEMICAL PROPERTY – Dominated by large surface to vol. ratio.
 MELTING POINT – Get reduced on reducing grain size .
 These materials exhibit superplasticity even at lower temperatures .
 Have high strength, hardness, formability, and toughness.
SOURCES
NATURAL
INCIDENTAL
ENGINEERED
SOME EXAMPLES OF NANOMATERIALS
Some Examples of nanoparticles are:
Quantum Dots
- Quantum dots are very special because they are so small that 4,000,000 dotstake up 2cm.
- At these small sizes quantum dots enable never before seen appications to scienceand
technology.
USES –
• used for LED
• memory storage
• solar cells
Nanoshell
- A type of spherical nanoparticle consisting of a dielectric core which is covered by a thin
metallic shell (usually gold).
- Nanoshells possess highly favorable optical and chemical properties for biomedical imaging
and therapeutic applications.
- Nanoshell properties is chemically inert, non-magnetic and water-soluble and can be used as
efficient catalysts and also in biological applications.
Metal Rubber
- A self-assembled nanocomposite material that combines the high electrical
conductivity of metals with the low mechanical modulus of elastomers.
- This metal rubber also flexible, indestructible material that can be heated, frozen,
washed or doused with jet fuel, and still retain its electricity-conducting propertie.
-Metal rubber is used for:
• bendy, electrically charged aircraft wings
• body armor
• durable electronic sensors
• artificial muscles
• wearable computers and
• abuse-resistant, flexible circuits, like cell phones
Nanopores
- Nanoporous materials area is the class of compounds that contain a regular ordered framework
possessing pores on the nanoscale.
- The collection includes mainly natural or synthetic zeolites. There are many types of
nanopores such as biological nanopores, solid-state nanopores, and hybrid nanopores.
- APPLICATIONS:
1. DNA sequencing
2. transport of various ions
3. detect target molecules at very low concentrations from very small sample volumes.
CARBON NANOTUBE
- A Carbon nanotube is a molecule in form of a hollow cylinder with a diameter of around a
nanometer which consist of pure carbon .
- Cabon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure .
- These are members of fullerene structural family
- Length to diameter ratio upto 132,000,000:1
- The silicon transisters in our computer may be replaced by trasisters based on carbon
nanotubes .
- PROPERTIES –
a. Highest strength to weight ratio helps in creating light weight spacecrafts.
b. Easily penetrate membranes such as cell walls . So it can help in cancer treatment.
CARBON NANOTUBE
APPLICATION OF NANOMATERIALS IN VARIOUS FIELDS
 PLASTICS AND GLASS
 TEXTILES AND FABRICS
 HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE
 SPORTS AND LEISURE
 HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT