Organic nanotubes created from mesogenic derivatives

A facile route to prepare the nanotubes from rod-like mesogens dissolved in typical organic solvents is reported. For selected types of chiral rod-like molecules, both enantiomers as well as the racemic mixtures formed the nanotubes by slow evaporation from a solution, regardless of the solvent, concentration or deposition type. Obtained supramolecular assemblies were studied using AFM and SEM techniques. Additional methods (IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction) were applied to characterize the observed nanotubes. The difference in the surface tension at opposite crystallite surfaces is suggested as a possible mechanism for the nanotube nucleation.