Modular Construction of a Tessellated Octahedron, its Hierarchical Spherical Aggregate Behavior, and Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Activity

Coordination-driven self-assembly has led to the formation of various aesthetical polyhedrons and compounds with advanced functions. Whereas two-dimensional supramolecules with complex and giant skeletons are plentiful, the constructions of polyhedrons are limited by using basic polygons as the panels. Herein, we report the modular synthesis of a tessellated triangle and tessellated octahedron with metal-organic modules as the panels and formed via template-driven self-assembly. These architectures have diameters on the order of 10.9 nm and molecular weights greater than 84 kDa. Interestingly, fiber and spherical-like nanostructures could be formed from the tessellated triangles and octahedrons, respectively, through hierarchical self-assembly. In addition, after hybridization with carbon nanotubes, the supramolecules exhibit electrochemical reduction activity for CO2 to CO.