Supramolecular Assembly of Hexagonal Mesostructured Germanium Sulfide and Selenide Nanocomposites Incorporating the Biologically Relevant Fe4S4 Cluster

Stable hybrid systems are generated by the reaction of adamantane [Ge4Q10]4− (Q=S, Se) clusters with substitutionally labile [Fe4S4Cl4]2− clusters templated by cationic surfactant molecules. The resulting novel hexagonal mesophases have parallel pore tunnels (see schematic representation) with separations of ≈35 Å, which may find applications in shape-selective electro- and photocatalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and biosensors.