Helical Arrays of CdS Nanoparticles Tracing on a Functionalized Chiral Template of Glycolipid Nanotubes

We have illustrated that the dense helical arrays of CdS nanoparticles, which are aligned one-by-one and side-by-side, form on the self-assembled nanotube template from the binary components, glycolipid, N-(11-cis-octadecenoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosylamine (1) and aminophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) as an additive. The present formation mechanism greatly differs from preceding examples that utilize residual helical marks on the surfaces of lipid nanotubes and nanoribbons or organic templates with a helical morphology. In this work, we functionalized the glycolipid nanotube of 1 by incorporation of 2 through self-assembly. This functionalization process enabled us to create active binding sites, which trace the chiral molecular packing of the nanotube. Consequently, the helical nucleation and growth of the CdS nanoparticles took place on the template surfaces. The helical arrangement of the CdS nanoparticles was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The phase analysis and optical properties of the helical CdS nanoparticle were also discussed.