Stimuli responsive dynamic transformations in supramolecular gels

Abstract

Stimuli responsive dynamic changes in the networks of self-assembled gels result in an alteration of physical and chemical properties of the gel with time.

Varying the hydrophobic spacer to influence multicomponent gelation

“…6 As an alternative approach, it is common to adapt the properties of known gelators by following different approaches: first, by varying the route of self-assembly, specifically the self-assembly kinetics, keeping the final composition of the material identical; 4,7 second, by exposing a pre-formed gel to an external stimulus like heat, pH, UV-light, or ions to thereby modify its properties. ; 5,8 third, by varying the chemical structure of the gelator. 9 Compounds with very similar chemical structures may have significantly different gel properties.…”

Multiscale structural control of linked metal–organic polyhedra gel by aging-induced linkage-reorganization

“…Although there are some reports about their gel-togel or gel-to-crystal transitions over time, 52,53 most studies only focused on the gel morphology at the mesoscale, where the inuence of the structural changes on the macroscale properties like transparency and stiffness are readily apparent. 54 It is still challenging to understand the effect of aging on the relationship between structures and properties at the molecular scale because of the difficulty in characterizing structural transitions of the amorphous materials/gels.…”

Controlling hydrogel properties by tuning non-covalent interactions in a charge complementary multicomponent system

“…4,5 As the intermolecular interactions are individually weak and reversible, tuning of the gel properties is possible by altering the nature of the intermolecular forces on applying stimuli like pH, temperature, UV-light, ionic analytes etc. [6][7][8] Generally, supramolecular gels are obtained from single components. However, the mixing of two different molecules in preparing gels is a promising way of accessing useful and exciting materials that cannot be derived from either of the individual components.…”