A route to hierarchical materials based on complexes of metallosupramolecular polyelectrolytes and amphiphiles

Anisotropic thin film materials of metallosupramolecular polyelectrolyte–amphiphile complexes (denoted PACs) with structures at several length scales were fabricated through a multistep self-assembly process. Metal ion-mediated self-assembly of the ditopic ligand 1,4-bis(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-4′-yl)benzene and electrostatic binding with the amphiphile dihexadecyl phosphate result in a PAC with tailored surface chemical properties, including solubility and surface activity. The PAC forms a stable monolayer at the air–water interface that is readily transferred and oriented on solid supports with the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The presented strategy unifies colloid and metallosupramolecular chemistry and opens a versatile route to hierarchical materials with tailored structures and functions.