Title
Polarization-controlled tunable directional spin-driven photocurrents in a magnetic metamaterial with threefold rotational symmetry
Author
Shaohua Zhang, Wei Li, Jiabin Luan, Abhinav Srivastava, Vincenzo Carnevale, Michael L. Klein, Jiawei Sun, Danni Wang, Serena P. Teora, Sjoerd J. Rijpkema, Johannes D. Meeldijk & Daniela A. Wilson
Year
2022
Journal
Nature communications
Abstract
Covalent and non-covalent molecular binding are two strategies to tailor surface properties and functions. However, the lack of responsiveness and requirement for specific binding groups makes spatiotemporal control challenging. Here, we report the adaptive insertion of a hydrophobic anchor into a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) host as a non-covalent binding strategy for surface functionalization. By using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the hydrophobic anchor, hydrophilic charged and non-charged functional modules were spontaneously loaded onto PEG corona in 2 min without the assistance of any catalysts and binding groups. The thermodynamically favourable insertion of the hydrophobic anchor can be reversed by pulling the functional module, enabling programmable surface functionalization. We anticipate that the adaptive molecular recognition between the hydrophobic anchor and the PEG host will challenge the hydrophilic understanding of PEG and enhance the progress in nanomedicine, advanced materials and nanotechnology.
Full Article
Instrument
FP-8300
Keywords
molecular binding, PEG, nanotechnology, materials