Chiral Transfer and Evolution in Cysteine Induced Cobalt Superstructures

Chiral organic additives have unveiled the extraordinary capacity to form chiral inorganic superstructures, however, complex hierarchical structures have hindered the understanding of chiral transfer and growth mechanisms. This study introduces a simple hydrothermal synthesis method for constructing chiral cobalt superstructures with cysteine, demonstrating specific recognition of chiral molecules and outstanding electrocatalytic activity. The mild preparation conditions allow in situ tracking of chirality evolution in the chiral cobalt superstructure, offering unprecedented insights into the chiral transfer and amplification mechanism. The resulting superstructures exhibit a universal formation process applicable to other metal oxides, extending the understanding of chiral superstructure evolution. This work contributes not only to the fundamental understanding of chirality in self-assembled structures but also provides a versatile method for designing chiral inorganic nanomaterials with remarkable molecular recognition and electrocatalytic capabilities. Cobalt-based chiral superstructures are fabricated using a straightforward hydrothermal synthesis method. These superstructures demonstrate remarkable specific recognition of chiral molecules, along with exceptional electrocatalytic activity. The in situ chirality evolution of these superstructures is meticulously tracked, offering an intuitive perspective on the evolution of chiral superstructures. This approach provides new insights into the assembly mechanisms underlying chiral superstructures. image