Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 5309–5312 (2001)Imprinted Networks as Chiral PumpsReceived 10 January 2001; published in the issue dated 4 June 2001 We investigate the interaction between a chirally imprinted network and a solvent of chiral molecules. We find that a liquid-crystalline polymer network is preferentially swollen by one component of a racemic solvent. This ability to separate is linked to the chiral order parameter of the network, and can be reversibly controlled via temperature or a mechanical deformation. It is maximal near the point at which the network loses its imprinted structure. One possible practical application of this effect would be a mechanical device for sorting mixed chiral molecules. © 2001 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.5309
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.5309
PACS:
61.30.-v, 61.41.+e, 78.20.Ek
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