Supramolecular hydrogels are expected to have applications as novel soft materials in various fields owing to their designable functional properties. Herein, we developed an in situ synthesis of supramolecular hydrogelators, which can trigger gelation of an aqueous solution without the need for temperature change. This was achieved by mixing two precursors, which induced the synthesis of a supramolecular gelator and its instantaneous self-assembly into nanofibers. We then performed the in situ synthesis of this supramolecular gelator at an oil/water interface to produce nanofibers that covered the surfaces of the oil droplets (nanofiber-stabilized oil droplets). External stimuli induced fusion of the droplets owing to disassembly of the gelator molecules. Finally, we demonstrated that this stimuli-induced droplet fusion triggered a synthetic reaction within the droplets. This means that the confined nanofiber-stabilized droplets can be utilized as stimuli-responsive microreactors.

Supramolecular hydrogels are expected to have applications as novel soft materials in various fields owingt o their designable functional properties.Herein, we developed an in situ synthesis of supramolecular hydrogelators,w hich can trigger gelation of an aqueous solution without the need for temperature change.T his was achieved by mixing two precursors,w hichi nduced the synthesis of as upramolecular gelator and its instantaneous self-assembly into nanofibers.W e then performed the in situ synthesis of this supramolecular gelator at an oil/water interface to produce nanofibers that covered the surfaces of the oil droplets (nanofiber-stabilized oil droplets). External stimuli induced fusion of the droplets owing to disassembly of the gelator molecules.F inally,w ed emonstrated that this stimuli-induced droplet fusion triggered as ynthetic reaction within the droplets.T his means that the confined nanofiber-stabilized droplets can be utilized as stimuli-responsive microreactors.

The anionic binary Ionic liquids; TMPAFSA x TFSA 1-x were prepared as mixture of TMPATFSA and TMPAFSA. From the results of DSC analysis, the binary system showed the simple binary eutectic phase diagram and the eutectic point was found at the composition point of x = 0.33. In this system, each anion vibrated independently and showed isomerization equilibria displacement with temperature change. It was suggested that the equilibria displacements affected to the liquid structure and cistrans isomerization of each anion played an important role in the solidification of TMPAFSA x TFSA 1-x .

Solution structures at solid–liquid interfaces play important roles in electrochemical reaction systems. To gain insights into interactions between binary solutions and metal oxides, we used quantitative 1H NMR and resonance shear measurements to investigate the behavior of a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate (PC)–1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) at the interface with SiO2. The PC–DME mixture formed a well-ordered structure at the SiO2 interface, with the viscosity increasing from 0.5 mPa s in the bulk to 105 mPa s at 25 nm from the SiO2 surface. This long-range structure resulted from the preferential concentration of DME on the SiO2 surface owing to the different absorptivities of the solvent molecules. LiClO4 addition reduced the distance from the SiO2 surface at which the solution structure formed to 10 nm at 1.0 mol L–1 and 7.5 nm at 2.0 or 3.0 mol L–1. This interfacial structure affected ionic conduction and was consistent with the distance from the SiO2 surface at which the activation energy of ionic conduction in solid–liquid systems became 10 kJ mol–1 greater than the bulk value. The disproportionation of the solvent mixture at the SiO2 interface was competitive with ion solvation but was suppressed when the [DME]/[Li+] ratio was ≤2.6.

Properties of concentrated ZnSO 4 aqueous solutions coexisting with metal oxide nanoparticles were observed. Raman spectroscopy indicated that ion pair forming tendencies was enhanced in the vicinity of silica nanoparticles which have hydrophilic groups. Zn 2+ is supposed not to make sufficient hydration sphere and tend to make contact ion pair due to sharing water molecules with hydrophilic solid surface. Alumina nanoparticles exhibited strong effect on 1 H relaxation than silica nanoparticles. The salt concentration dependences of 1 H relaxation time and pH of aqueous solution suggested that the effects from solid phase on coexisting liquid phase were affected by liquid property in itself.