Fig. 1. Fabrication of ultrathin polyamide nanofilms incorporating aligned macrocycles.

a, Amino-functionalized macrocycles synthesized from unfunctionalized hydroxyl precursors, cyclodextrin or 4-sulfocalix[4]arene sodium salt. An ultrathin polyamide nanofilm incorporating aligned macrocycle channels was created at a free interface between an aqueous solution containing amino macrocycles and a hexane solution containing acyl chloride, in contrast to a thick film incorporating disordered channels fabricated from the unfunctionalized macrocycles. b, Schematic demonstrating molecular sieving through nanofilms incorporating aligned macrocycles.