Control over the emerging chirality in supramolecular gels and solutions by chiral microvortices in milliseconds

Jiashu Sun (), Yike Li, Fusheng Yan, Chao Liu, Yutao Sang, Fei Tian, Qiang Feng, Pengfei Duan, Li Zhang, Xinghua Shi, Baoquan Ding () and Minghua Liu ()
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Jiashu Sun: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Yike Li: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Fusheng Yan: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Chao Liu: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Yutao Sang: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Fei Tian: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Qiang Feng: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Pengfei Duan: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li Zhang: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xinghua Shi: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Baoquan Ding: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Minghua Liu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The origin of homochirality in life is a fundamental mystery. Symmetry breaking and subsequent amplification of chiral bias are regarded as one of the underlying mechanisms. However, the selection and control of initial chiral bias in a spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking process remains a great challenge. Here we show experimental evidences that laminar chiral microvortices generated within asymmetric microchambers can lead to a hydrodynamic selection of initial chiral bias of supramolecular systems composed of exclusively achiral molecules within milliseconds. The self-assembled nuclei with the chirality sign affected by the shear force of enantiomorphic microvortices are subsequently amplified into almost absolutely chirality-controlled supramolecular gels or nanotubes. In contrast, turbulent vortices in stirring cuvettes fail to select the chirality of supramolecular gels. This study reveals that a laminar chiral microflow can induce enantioselection far from equilibrium, and provides an insight on the origin of natural homochirality.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05017-7

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