Self-assembled network via molecular recognition

Supramolecular chemistry is the ultimate strategy for the fabrication of innovative materials devote to accomplish advanced tasks. Mastering the weak interactions that held together the molecular components, a sophisticated structures appear. The present thesis deals with the formation of supramolecular networks via molecular recognition, covering three main topics: 1) the realization of hybrid organic-inorganic material, by polymer controlled association of gold nanoparticles; 2) the fabrication of sensor device, by combining molecular recognition functions with electrical properties of carbon nanotubes, and 3) the formation of polymer blending, as macroscopic expression of molecular recognition. All the topics have been exploited moving in the frame of cavitand chemistry. Several and complementary techniques, both in solution and in the solid state, allow for the comprehensive characterization of the formed networks, at different scale, ranging from molecular to macroscopic level.