Exploring the Multifunctionality of a Novel Long-Chain Amidoamine Amphiphile

In this review, we demonstrate that the practical applications of a novel long-chain amidoamine derivative with a simple molecular structure (C18AA) are equivalent to or higher in number than those of supramolecules with complex molecular structures. Molecular assemblies of C18AA exhibit distinctive thermal responsiveness; namely, C18AA can form a gel with apolar organic solvents, while O/W emulsions of C18AA act as a heat-induced gelator that undergoes a phase transition from solution to gel upon heating. We also show that C18AA emulsions containing a quaternary ammonium salt develop an iridescent color over a specific temperature range. Further, molecular assemblies of C18AA serve as high-performance soft templates for the preparation of shape-controlled metal nanocrystals such as ultrathin Au nanowires and Pd nanowires.

Neuron-shaped gold nanocrystals and two-dimensional dendritic gold nanowires fabricated by use of a long-chain amidoamine derivative

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) dendritic Au nanowires (DNWs) with diameters of 100-200 nm in an aqueous solution of long-chain amidoamine derivative (C18AA), which acted as both capping and reducing agent, and the preparation of large 2D DNWs with diameters of 400-700 nm by seeded growth of the original DNWs. The seeded growth method in the presence of C18AA enables the fabrication of novel neuron-shaped Au nanostructures consisting of two DNWs dangling from both ends of an ultrathin Au nanowire.