Abstract: Supramolecular assembly and chirality between a novel gemini surfactant (C12H24-α,ω-(C12H25N＋(CH3)2Br－)2), (abbreviated as C12-C12-C12) and TPPS (tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphine) at the air/water interface were investigated. It was found that although the gemini surfactant itself could not form a stable monolayer at the air/water interface, when there existed TPPS in the subphase, a stable complex monolayer could be formed. The complex monolayer could be transferred onto solid substrate by a horizontal lifting method. At a certain pH value of the subphase, TPPS could form a J-aggregate. It was further found that the J-aggregate of TPPS showed a strong split Cotton effect in the transferred film although both the gemini surfactant and TPPS are achiral. Further investigation through AFM measurements revealed that the nanothread formed in the transferred film was responsible for the chirality of the multilayer film. In addition, the two positive charge center of the gemini surfactant did not necessarily play the cooperative role in inducing the chirality of TPPS J-aggregate.

Key words: Gemini surfactant, Multilayer film, Chirality