Imprinted Networks as Chiral Pumps
Soft Condensed Matter
2009-11-07 v1
Abstract
We investigate the interaction between a chirally imprinted network and a solvent of chiral molecules. We find, a liquid crystalline polymer network is preferentially swollen by one component of a racemic solvent. This ability to separate is linked to the chiral order parameter of the network, and can be reversibly controlled via temperature or a mechanical deformation. It is maximal near the point at which the network loses its imprinted structure. One possible practical application of this effect would be a mechanical device for sorting mixed chiral molecules.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0101180,
title = {Imprinted Networks as Chiral Pumps},
author = {Y. Mao and M. Warner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0101180},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4 pages, 5 figures