Temperature dependence of inclusion-dissociation behavior between molecular nanotubes and linear polymers

We have investigated the inclusion-dissociation behavior between molecular nanotubes and linear polymers in solutions by measuring the induced circular dichroism of the mixture of the molecular nanotubes, which are composed of alpha -cyclodextrins linked by three cross-linking bridges, and poly(ethylene glycol) modified with azobenzene. It was found that the inclusion complex between the nanotubes and the linear polymers was formed at room temperature, and that the polymers were dissociated from the nanotubes with increasing temperature, as expected theoretically. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.