The self-assembly behavior of a newly synthesized amphiphilic diacetylene compound, 4-oxo-4-(pentacosa-10,12-diynylamino)butanoic acid (PCDAS), was investigated in aqueous media. Upon UV irradiation followed by incubation at ambient temperature, PCDAS gradually transformed from spherical vesicular nanoparticles into interconnected single-walled nanotube (SWNT)-based neural-like nanotubular networks (NNNs). The formation of these branched architectures is driven by the progressive co-fusion and reorganization of vesicular assemblies. A three-stage mechanism was proposed for this transformation: (1) vesicle aggregation through head-to-head hydrophilic interactions, (2) propagation into elongated nanotubular assemblies via vesicle fusion and molecular reorganization, and (3) interconnection of nanotubes to construct a continuous NNN. High-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging under air revealed bilayer-type junctions with heights of approximately 5–6 nm, while the connecting nanotubes exhibited heights of around 1 nm, characteristic of single-walled structures. The thermal stability of the NNN was relatively high, as it preserved its morphology even when subjected to elevated temperatures under ambient conditions on mica substrates. These results highlight the potential of this self-assembled nanostructure for applications in composite materials, reinforced plastics, and advanced industrial coatings.
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