**Executive Summary**
Researchers from CeNS and JNCASR have announced a breakthrough in controlling the self-assembly of naphthalene diimide (NDI) molecules through temperature adjustments. Published on April 9, 2026, the study details how NDI can switch between different structural and optical states, offering a method to tune electrical conductivity. This discovery is intended to facilitate the development of next-generation functional materials for electronics, sensors, and bioelectronic interfaces.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Research Collaboration and Methodology**
* The study was conducted by the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), both under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
* The research investigated naphthalene diimide (NDI), an amphiphilic molecule that organizes itself in water via supramolecular self-assembly.
* Assembly is driven by noncovalent interactions to form well-defined nanostructures.
* **Temperature-Induced Structural Changes**
* **Room Temperature:** Molecules self-assemble into circular "nanodisks" that exhibit chiroptical activity, allowing them to interact with polarized light.
* **Heating:** The material reorganizes into two-dimensional "nanosheets," which results in the loss of chiroptical activity.
* **Tunable Electrical and Optical Properties**
* Nanodisks possess significantly higher electrical conductivity than nanosheets.
* The transition from nanodisks to nanosheets causes a nearly sevenfold decrease in electrical conductivity.
* The material’s electrical behavior can be precisely tuned by controlling its self-assembly pathway via temperature.
**Impact Analysis**
**Research Community (Scientists and Academics)**
**Impact**
The study provides a rare example of tuning electrical behavior in small organic molecules and offers insights into using supramolecular chemistry to engineer smart materials.
**Action Required**
Researchers can leverage these findings and the published methodology in *ACS Applied Nano Materials* to further study nanoscale molecular behavior and design advanced functional materials.
**Technology Developers and Manufacturers**
**Impact**
The ability to dynamically adjust structural, optical, and electrical properties opens new avenues for creating adaptive materials.
**Action Required**
Developers should consider these temperature-controlled nanomaterials for the design and evolution of future optoelectronic systems, sensors, and bioelectronic interfaces.
Key Entities Referenced
Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru: The lead autonomous research institute under DST that conducted the breakthrough study on temperature-controlled nanomaterials for future electronics.
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR): A key collaborating autonomous research institution under DST involved in the investigation of naphthalene diimide (NDI) and its molecular assembly.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): The nodal government department that oversees and funds the autonomous research bodies responsible for this scientific advancement.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The primary ministry of the Government of India responsible for the policy and administration of scientific research initiatives.
Dr. Goutam Ghosh: The lead researcher at CeNS who headed the study on using supramolecular chemistry to engineer tunable smart materials.
Ministry of Science & Technology
UNLOCKING TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED
NANOMATERIALS FOR FUTURE ELECTRONICS
Posted On: 09 APR 2026 4:23PM by PIB Delhi
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how small organic molecules can be
guided to form advanced functional materials. This could facilitate future electronic devices, tuneable
optoelectronic systems, responsive materials, and bioelectronic interfaces.
The team from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), both autonomous bodies under the
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, investigated naphthalene diimide
(NDI), which is amphiphilic molecule with the unique ability to organize itself in water through a process
known as supramolecular self-assembly.
Amphiphilic molecules come together through noncovalent interactions and form well-defined
nanostructures. Such assemblies that can be controlled are crucial for emerging applications in electronics,
photonics, and biomedical devices.
The researchers discovered that at room temperature, these molecules self-assemble into tiny circular
nanostructures called nanodisks. These nanodisks display an optical property that enables them to interact
with polarized light in a distinctive way (chiroptical activity).
Upon heating, the nanodisks are structurally reorganised and transform into two-dimensional nanosheets
that lose their chiroptical activity. This shows that temperature alone can switch the material between
different structural and optical states.The team also observed that the nanodisks showed significantly higher electrical conductivity, which
decreased nearly sevenfold when they converted into nanosheets. This demonstrates that the electrical
behaviour of the material can be precisely tuned by controlling its self-assembly pathway. Such tunability
is a rarity in small organic molecules.
This ability to dynamically adjust structural, optical, and electrical properties using temperature provides a
powerful route to developing smart, adaptive materials.
The study, recently published in ACS Applied Nano Materials by the American Chemical Society,
highlights how understanding nanoscale molecular behavior can influence the design of next-generation
functional materials. By showcasing a simple yet effective method to control molecular assembly, the
work opens new avenues for designing advanced materials for sensors, electronics, and smart
technologies.
The research led by Dr. Goutam Ghosh (CeNS), along with his PhD student Mr. Sourav Moyra (CeNS)
and collaborator Mr. Tarak Nath Das (JNCASR) provides valuable insights into using supramolecular
chemistry to engineer highly tunable and efficient smart materials.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.5c03598
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