Light driven bent linear supramolecular polymer

Abstract Linear supramolecular polymer with photo-responsive morphology was constructed by host-guest molecular recognition between bis-p-sulfonatocalix[4]arenes and monomer containing axially 1,1′-binaphthyl and photoresponsive azobenzene moieties in water. The successful supramolecular polymerization by non-covalent host-guest molecular recognition was confirmed. Scanning electron microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements were used to investigate its light driven behavior and line morphology change from straight to bent. Its noteworthy light driven morphology change from straight to bent make it possible to envision its' usage as molecular machine based display material in the same way as bent-core liquid crystal material used in technology.