Design of ultra-robust supramolecular assemblies and their application to water treatment

Abstract

Molecular self-assembly offers a powerful bottom-up approach to producing small molecule nanostructures with high surface areas, tunable surface chemistries, and pristine internal order. Conventionally, the dynamic nature of these systems has constrained their use to specific cases in primarily biomedical applications. Here, I present the design of molecular self-assemblies constructed from small molecule aramid amphiphiles to overcome these limitations. Aramid amphiphiles incorporate a Kevlarinspired domain that imparts strong, cohesive intermolecular interactions between molecules. This design results in the self-assembly of aramid amphiphiles into nanostructures with suppressed dynamic mobility and mechanical properties rivaling silk. By harnessing this stability, I expand the application space of small molecule assemblies to extending molecular assemblies to the solid-state, stabilizing unusual metastable nanostructures, and producing stable antifouling surface coatings. Finally, I leverage surface areas near 200 m²/g to design aramid amphiphile-based nanomaterials that treat liters of lead-contaminated water with single milligrams of material. Incorporating durable interactions into supramolecular assemblies offers a route to surmount the limitations of conventional assemblies, enabling customizable nanomaterials for demanding applications.