journal article·2025-11

Seed‐Controlled Gel‐to‐Single‐Crystal Transformation in the Supramolecular Co‐assembly of Metal–Organic Polyhedra and Redox‐Active Cu(II) Complex

Tarak Nath Das, Goutam Ghosh, Rohan Jena, Soumitra Barman, Faruk Ahamed Rahimi, Anupam Dey, Sneha Raj V. Parambil, Gustavo Fernández, Tapas Kumar Maji

Small· Volume 21· Issue 47
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Rational molecular design is paramount for comprehending hierarchical self‐assembly processes. While current approaches have primarily focused on π‐chromophore‐based systems, there is limited understanding about the self‐assembly of metal–organic polyhedra (MOP). In this study, the co‐assembly between Ga III ‐based metal–organic cubes ( Ga‐MOC s) ([Ga 8 (ImDC) 12 ] 12− ) (ImDC = imidazoledicarboxylate) and [Cu(en) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2+ ( Cu‐en ) binder is exploited via charge‐assisted hydrogen bonding (CAHB) interactions at low concentration to regulate supramolecular polymerization. Employing a sequential growth control approach, precise tuning over the supramolecular co‐assembly is enabled. At higher concentrations, the supramolecular polymer fibers entangle to form a hydrogel. Notably, the kinetically metastable gel state spontaneously transforms into a thermodynamically stable cubic crystal within 17 days, driven by the nanofiber bundling. A seeded approach is utilized to regulate the time scale, accelerating the kinetics and reducing the transformation period from 17 days to 8 h. The excellent processable redox‐active GaCu assembly demonstrates notable performance in electrochemical CO 2 reduction, showing high Faradaic efficiency and stability for CO production, supported by in situ spectroscopy and DFT calculations. This study demonstrates unprecedented high‐precision control over nanostructure and transition rates from kinetic to thermodynamic assembly in a MOP‐based supramolecular system and highlights the pivotal role of redox‐active, processable soft materials in CO 2 valorization.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials · Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications · Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

New Chemistry Unit (NCU) School of Advanced Materials (SAMat) Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur Bangalore 560064 India

Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit (CPMU) School of Advanced Materials (SAMat) Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur Bangalore 560064 India

Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) Shivanapura, Dasanapura Hobli Bangalore 562162 India

Universität Münster Organisch‐Chemisches Institut Corrensstraße 36 48149 Münster Germany

Funding

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research · Department of Science and Technology, Government of Kerala · Science and Engineering Research Board

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