In Situ Synthesis of a Supramolecular Hydrogelator at an Oil/Water Interface for Stabilization and Stimuli‐Induced Fusion of Microdroplets

Abstract

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.

Three-Dimensional Visualization for Early-Stage Evolution of Polymer Aging

“…The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) technique has drawn great attention due to its high sensitivity and three-dimensional and real-time observation characteristics . These advantages of CLSM imaging have made it a promising technique in exploring the micro-/macrostructure of materials and monitoring the dynamic process of molecular self-assembly and biological events. − In this contribution, we present an early-stage visualization (ESV) technique for the aging process of polypropylene (PP) by the CLSM technique (Figure ). Hydroxyl groups from the oxidation of the C–C bond in polymer backbones were taken as an indicator for aging evolution.…”

Interfacial Polymerization: From Chemistry to Functional Materials

“…Recently,s upramolecular polymers have also been fabricated by interfacial polymerization of the two precursors in two immiscible solvents,t hereby providing af acile strategy for supramolecular materials with controllable properties,structures,and functions. [37] Coordination polymers,w hich consist of metal ions and organic ligands linked through coordination bonds,appeared in the early 1960s, [38] and the term "coordination polymer" was defined by Bailar in 1964. [39] Acoordination polymer with reversible coordination bonds can also be assigned as as upramolecular polymer.…”

Grenzflächenpolymerisation: Von der Chemie zu funktionellen Materialien

“…Seit kurzem werden supramolekulare Polymere auch durch Grenzflächenpolymerisation von zwei Precursoren in zwei nicht mischbaren Lçsungsmitteln hergestellt, was eine einfache Herstellung von supramolekularen Materialien mit kontrollierbaren Eigenschaften, Strukturen und Funktionen ermçglicht. [37] Koordinationspolymere aus Metallionen und organischen Liganden, mittels koordinativer Bindungen gebildet, traten in den frühen 1960er Jahren in Erscheinung, [38] und der Begriff "Koordinationspolymer" wurde 1964 von J. C. Bailar definiert. [39] Koordinationspolymere mit reversiblen koordinativen Bindungen kçnnen auch den supramolekularen Polymeren zugeordnet werden.…”