A New Breed of Metallosupramolecular Assembly

自组装是由简单的部件迅速形成复杂的结构。大自然利用这一点来产生最令人印象深刻的分子机制来执行复杂的任务。金属超分子化学家结合简单的成分（金属离子和有机配体）来创造合成变体来完成类似的作用。目前的方法有局限性，而这个项目旨在创造一种新的结构类型：大型可控可变金属折叠体（由金属离子和配体组成的结构，像DNA一样卷曲）。这些分子不仅有益于基础知识，还具有功能性。它们有望在光物理、光化学、催化和传感应用方面提高性能。

Self-assembly is the ready formation of complex structures from simple components. Nature uses this to generate its most impressive molecular machinery to carry out complex tasks. Metallosupramolecular chemists combine simple components (metal ions and organic ligands) to create synthetic variants to fulfil similar roles. Current methods have limitations, and this project aims to create a new structural type: large and controllably variable metallo-foldamers (structures consisting of metal ions and ligands that coil like DNA). As well as benefiting fundamental knowledge, these molecules will be functional. They are expected to improve performance with enhanced outcomes in photophysical, photochemical, catalytic, and sensing applications.