Vapor-controlled supramolecules can switch color, glow and phase

Controlling interactions between molecules and their functions from the molecular level to the macroscopic scale is challenging in supramolecular and materials chemistry.

To this end, a research team led by associate professor Yosuke Tani from WPI-ITbM at Nagoya University and Keisuke Wada from Kyoto University designed a vapor-controlled, reversible host–guest chemistry system that controls the optical and physical properties of a functional molecular liquid (FML)—nonvolatile fluids that can feature optical, electronic and catalytic properties. ...