Self-assembled metal clustersomes and chirality transfer to colloidal photonic crystals

The construction of soft and flexible materials using metallic hard synthons is expected to endow these materials with convergent properties for multiple functionalities. However, the design protocols remain underdeveloped due to limited understanding of structure-property correlations and growth preferences regarding dimensions and size. Herein, through bottom-up self-assembly of engineered atomically precise metal clusters, membranous liposomal nanoarchitectures with soft matter morphology and rigid properties are constructed. Post-modification of surface ligands introduces considerable steric effects, thereby directing self-assembly towards membranous curvature in liposomal architectures rather than crystallization. Host‒guest complexation by β-cyclodextrin enables precise regulation of their size and dispersity. Chirality can be facilely implanted to afford chiroptical properties at both ground and photoexcited states. The inherent shape-persistent and rigid properties from metal clusters confer prominent mechanical strength, with Young’s moduli reaching up to 16‒20 GPa. The characteristic of combining rigidity with soft matter morphology offers opportunities to explore application potentials in colloidal photonic crystals, particularly those with modulated structural colors. Compared with traditional liposomes and polymersomes, metal clustersomes could provide expanded functionalities.