Synthetic superstructures showing polymorphism, coherent responsiveness, and parallel reactions in phase separation

Understanding and mimicking the processes of life has been an endeavour for generations of scientists across all the fields of science and technology. Artificially designing the complexity of living cells from purely synthetic materials poses a significant challenge due to their complex bottom-up assembly. We show that a solvothermal reaction of pre-formed sodium coordinated pyrene and porphyrin based supramolecular structures with azobenzene supramolecules in a one-pot reaction results in an array of superstructures with controlled morphology, featuring curved surfaces and extrinsic chirality. They respond as a single unit to external triggers, such as light, exhibiting transformations to macro-scale extrinsic chirality, as well as bursting and folding behaviours. Finally, we show the growth of two different types of superstructures in parallel by exploiting liquid-liquid phase separation.