{
  "abstract": "The separation of azeotropic and structurally similar mixtures remains a fundamental challenge for conventional porous materials. Supramolecular host–guest chemistry provides exceptional recognition precision but is inherently limited by discrete cavity-confined binding. Here, we establish a strategy that extends host–guest recognition beyond cavity inclusion by activating cooperative interactions at the outer surfaces of macrocyclic hosts. Using cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) as a model system, we demonstrate that exposed outer surfaces can serve as amplifying recognition interfaces, where initial guest binding triggers subsequent molecular recruitment through cooperative aromatic interactions. Immobilization of Q[7] on magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles suppresses aggregation and enables synergistic cavity- and outer-surface-mediated recognition. The resulting material achieves highly selective and efficient separation of benzene (Ben) from n -heptane ( n -Hep) with enhanced adsorption capacity and recyclability. This work suggests outer-surface-mediated cooperative recognition as a general paradigm for designing supramolecular separation materials beyond cavity-centric host–guest chemistry.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Yafang Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tao Hou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lixia Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhu Tao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xi-Sheng Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2398-5669"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qing Li",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6509-2765"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gwg243z2czpy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-78531-8",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4gwg243z2czpy",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78531-8",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1605|Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220995739",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78531-8_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gwg243z2czpy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:38Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41467-026-78531-8",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78531-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1605|Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes",
      "subfield": "organic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Cooperative outer-surface recognition extends host–guest chemistry for high-capacity molecular separation beyond cavity inclusion",
  "title_text": "Cooperative outer-surface recognition extends host–guest chemistry for high-capacity molecular separation beyond cavity inclusion",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:38Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gwg243z2czpy",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}