Illuminating the Twist: Light-Driven Inversion of Supramolecular Chirality

In a striking demonstration of molecular control, a team of Japanese scientists has harnessed light to reverse the twist in self-assembling molecules. The study led by Professor Shiki Yagai from Chiba University identifies how trace residual aggregates in photoresponsive azobenzene solutions can reverse helical chirality through secondary nucleation.
By using precise control of ultraviolet and visible light, the researchers could switch between the rotation of helices, offering a breakthrough for novel materials with tunable properties.