Chiral selection by interfacial shearing of self-assembled achiral molecules

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Dec 4;103(23):237802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.237802. Epub 2009 Nov 30.

Abstract

We report a novel phenomenon of chiral selection in self-assembled condensates of achiral amphiphiles. The handedness of chiral textures, reproducing the collective rotational component of the molecular orientation inside submillimeter circular domains, is correlated with the sign of a vortical stirring in the aqueous subphase. We propose an explanation based on the distinctive kinetics of topological defect annihilation during domain coalescence at the initial coarsening stage of a phase-separating monolayer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Molecular*
  • Stereoisomerism