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 circula r dichroism of the mixture of the molecular nanotubes, which are composed o f alpha -cyclodextrins linked by three cross-linking bridges, and poly(ethy lene glycol) modified with azobenzene. It was found that the inclusion comp lex between the nanotubes and the linear polymers was formed at room temper ature, and that the polymers were dissociated from the nanotubes with incre asing temperature, as expected theoretically. (C) 2001 American Institute o f Physics.