Responsive Nanoporous Network

Significance

The authors demonstrate a photo-responsive nanoporous material for the bulk uptake of a large dye molecule. The system is based on self-assembly of 2-trans into a columnar hexagonal (Col_H) LC phase, followed by AIBN mediated cross-linking of the acrylate side chains to produce a densely cross-linked assembly. This assembly showed a 30% photoisomerization to the all-cis isomer 2-cis. Further, a 30% greater ion exchange of the dye 3-nitrobenzylsulfonic acid sodium salt was observed for the open form. This assembly demonstrates the first example of a polymerizable macrocyclic metallomesogen that can be photoisomerized in both monomeric and cross-linked liquid crystal (LC) states.