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Title
Japanese: 
English:Chiral crystal-like droplets displaying unidirectional rotational sliding 
Author
Japanese: 梶谷孝, 本川究理, 小阪敦子, 庄子良晃, 春木理恵, 橋爪大輔, 引間孝明, 高田昌樹, 矢澤宏次, 守島健, 柴山充弘, 福島孝典.  
English: Takashi Kajitani, 本川究理, Atsuko Kosaka, Yoshiaki Shoji, 春木理恵, 橋爪大輔, 引間孝明, 高田昌樹, 矢澤宏次, 守島健, 柴山充弘, Takanori Fukushima.  
Language English 
Journal/Book name
Japanese: 
English:Nature Materials 
Volume, Number, Page Vol. 18        Page 266-272
Published date Jan. 21, 2019 
Publisher
Japanese: 
English: 
Conference name
Japanese: 
English: 
Conference site
Japanese: 
English: 
Official URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-018-0270-7
 
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-018-0270-7
Abstract The self-assembly of organic molecules into supramolecular materials with structural ordering beyond the nanometre scale is challenging. Here, we report the spontaneous self-assembly of a chiral discotic triphenylene derivative into millimetre-sized droplets. The structure of the droplets is characterized by high positional and orientational ordering and a three-dimensional integrity similar to that of single crystals. Notwithstanding, these assemblies slide when placed on a vertical substrate demonstrating their fluid nature. X-ray imaging shows that during the sliding process the internal crystal-like structure is maintained and that the droplets undergo clockwise or counterclockwise unidirectional rotation, depending on the chirality of their molecular components. Rheological measurements suggest that this rotational behaviour might result from the distinct yield stress between the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. Overall, our findings demonstrate that molecular chirality can determine the movement direction of a supramolecular structure, thus expanding the fundamental understanding of the structure and dynamics of soft materials.

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