Magnetic deformation of self-assembled sexithiophene spherical nanocapsules

We report the experimental observation of magnetic field deformation of spherical nanocapsules, self-assembled from sexithiophene molecules, into oblate spheroids, confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The magnetically deformed objects can be trapped in a compatible organogel to make them suitable for further investigations and applications. Our results show that strong magnetic forces can be effectively used, in a contact-free manner, as a tool to control the self-organization of a whole class of functional organic molecules.