Gelation mechanism and microstructure of organogels formed with various types of gelators

The small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) investigation were carried out for organogels in toluene, formed by organogelators, to elucidate the relationship between the chemical structure and the gelation mechanism as well as the physical properties of the gels. Three different organogelators, that is cyclo(L ‐β‐3,7‐dimethyloctylasparaginyl‐L ‐phenylalanyl) (CPA), trans‐(1R,2R)‐bis(undecylcarbonylamino)cyclohexane (TCH), and N^ε‐lauroyl‐N^α‐stearylaminocarbonyl‐L ‐lysine ethyl ester (LEE), were chosen for comparison. The SANS intensity functions of toluene solutions of these gelators could be reduced with the concentration and were described with a scattering function for thin rods. This indicates that the gels consist of noncorrelated, rod‐like elements aggregated to each other. The characteristic features of the gelation properties, such as the critical gelation concentration, C_gel, the gelation temperature, T_gel, the gel structure, and the gelation mechanism, were different from each other. CPA had the lowest C_gel and became a gel gradually as the temperature decreased, while TCH and LEE had higher C_gels and underwent a sharp sol–gel transition. We conclude that the gelation mechanisms between the CPA and TCH solutions are different. The “CPA type” gelators form a gel by a linear extension of hydrogen‐bonded plane, while the “TCH type” gelators form a twisted wire, because of its strong helicity and crystallizability. In addition, in the latter type, a next generation of fibrils easily stacks on top of the previous ones to form larger fibrils. These models well explain the DLS results and the mechanical properties. That is, the fibrillar stems in CPA gels are rather mobile and fragile, while those in TCH and LEE are frozen and brittle. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3567–3574, 2005     

Thermoreversible gelation of helical polypeptide/single‐walled carbon nanotubes and their solid‐state structures

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been functionalized with poly(γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate)s (PBLGs) having well‐defined polymer molecular weight (M_n = 7.5–21.1 kg·mol^?1) and molecular weight distribution (PDI = 1.05–1.20) by a graft‐to method. Toluene solutions containing 5 wt % free PBLG and variable amounts of PBLG‐functionalized SWCNTs (PBLG‐SWCNTs) form gels at room temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis reveals that the gelation occurs thermoreversibly, in accord with previous studies on the pristine PBLG/toluene gels. The heat of gel melting (ΔH_m) is slightly elevated for the composite gels compared with the pristine gel, which suggests enhanced interactions between PBLGs in the former. But the gelation temperatures of the composites are unaffected by the presence of PBLG‐SWCNTs. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of the composite and pristine gels at different temperatures by the Guinier method suggests that PBLG‐SWCNTs promote interactions between PBLG rods, as indicated by the larger PBLG bundle size with increasing PBLG‐SWCNT content in the gel and the melt state. W/SAXS analysis of the dry gels reveals that PBLG‐SWCNTs induce significant changes in the PBLG packing order, resulting in a nematic phase, in contrast to a weakly ordered smectic C phase containing tilted PBLG rods that is observed in the pristine gel. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Remarkable Shape‐Sustaining,Load‐Bearing,and Self‐Healing Properties Displayed by a Supramolecular Gel Derived from a Bis‐pyridyl‐bis‐amide of L‐Phenyl Alanine

A series of bis‐amides decorated with pyridyl and phenyl moieties derived from L ‐amino acids having an innocent side chain (L ‐alanine and L ‐phenyl alanine) were synthesized as potential low‐molecular‐weight gelators (LMWGs). Both protic and aprotic solvents were found to be gelled by most of the bis‐amides with moderate to excellent gelation efficiency (minimum gelator concentration=0.32–4.0 wt. % and gel–sol dissociation temperature T_gel=52–110 °C). The gels were characterized by rheology, DSC, SEM, TEM, and temperature‐variable ¹H NMR measurements. pH‐dependent gelation studies revealed that the pyridyl moieties took part in gelation. Structure–property correlation was attempted using single‐crystal X‐ray and powder X‐ray diffraction data. Remarkably, one of the bis‐pyridyl bis‐amide gelators, namely 3,3‐Phe (3‐pyridyl bis‐amide of L ‐phenylalanine) displayed outstanding shape‐sustaining, load‐bearing, and self‐healing properties.     

A Systematic Study of Peripherally Multiple Aromatic Ester‐Functionalized Poly(benzyl ether) Dendrons for the Fabrication of Organogels: Structure–Property Relationships and Thixotropic Property

A new class of peripherally multiple aromatic ester‐functionalized poly(benzyl ether) dendrons and/or dendrimers with different focal point substituents, surface groups, interior structures, as well as different generations have been synthesized and their structure–property relationships with respect to their gelation ability have been investigated systematically. Most of these dendrons are able to gel organic solvents over a wide polarity range. Evident dendritic effects were observed not only in gelation capability but also in thermotropic, morphological, and rheological characterizations. It was disclosed that subtle changes in peripheral ester functionalities and interior dendritic structures affected the gelation behavior of the dendrons significantly. Among all the dendrons studied, the second‐ and third‐generation dendrons G₀G₂‐Me and G₀G₃‐Me with dimethyl isophthalates (DMIP) as peripheral groups exhibited the best capability in gelation, and stable gels were formed in more than 22 aromatic and polar organic solvents. The lowest critical gelation concentration (CGC) reached 2.0 mg mL^?1, indicating that approximately 1.35×10⁴ solvent molecules could be entrapped by one dendritic molecule. Further study on driving forces in gel formation was carried out by using a combination of single‐crystal/powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and concentration‐dependent (CD)/temperature‐dependent (TD) ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained from these experiments revealed that the multiple π–π stacking of extended π‐systems due to the peripheral DMIP rings, cooperatively assisted by non‐conventional hydrogen‐bonding, is the key contributor in the formation of the highly ordered supramolecular and fibrillar network. In addition, these dendritic organogels exhibited unexpected thixotropic‐responsive properties, which make them promising candidates with potential applications in the field of intelligent soft materials.     

Oligonucleotide Analogues with Integrated Bases and Backbones. Part 25

The ability of A*[s ]U dinucleosides to gel organic solvents and water is modulated by changing the nature of the substituents at O C(2′) and O C(3′), as evidenced by comparing the gelation of the dinucleosides 7 – 9 and the properties of the gels. A mere extension of the hydrophobic moiety, by replacing the isopropylidene groups of 2 by cyclohexylidene groups, as in 7 , has a small effect, while changing the conformation of the ribose ring and reducing the size of the hydrophobic moiety, as in 8 , has a strong effect on the scope of gelation, the minimum gelation concentration, as low as 0.07% for pentanol and decanol, and the properties of the gel. The fully deprotected dinucleoside 9 gels water at a minimal gelation concentration of 0.6%. A TEM of the corresponding xerogel shows the formation of fibers with a diameter of ca. 30 to 90 nm.     

Hydrogel Formation Using New L‐Lysine‐Based Low‐Molecular‐Weight Compounds with Positively Charged Pendant Chains

Low‐molecular‐weight compounds based on L ‐lysine with alkylpyridinium or ‐imidazolium groups have been synthesized and studied for their gelation behavior in H₂O. Most compounds formed gels below a concentration of 2.5 weight‐%, the pyridinium bromide 2a and the 1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium bromide 3 even at 0.1 weight‐%. The minimum gel concentration (MGC) necessary for hydrogelation increased with increasing length of the Lys N^α‐alkanoyl chain, but the gelation ability concomitantly decreased. Electron‐microscopic images demonstrated that these hydrogelators create a three‐dimensional network in H₂O by entanglement of self‐assembled nanofibers. A fluorescence study with 8‐anilinonaphthalene‐1‐sulfonic acid (ANS) proved that some hydrophobic aggregates are formed at hydrogelator concentrations below an MGC of less than 50 μM (0.004%). FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, and Fluorescence studies indicated that the driving forces for the self‐assembly into nanofibers are mainly hydrophobic interactions and H‐bonding between amide groups.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Polypeptide‐Based Supramolecular Hydrogels Mediated by Ca2+ Ion Cross‐Linking

Hydrogels cross‐linked with metal ions (e.g., Ca²⁺) represent a promising class of bioinspired materials for a wide range of biomedical applications. Herein, we report a facile approach to obtain cross‐linked stimuli‐responsive supramolecular polypeptide hydrogels. The hydrogel is prepared by statistical/block copoly(L‐glutamate)s based copolymers cross‐linked with calcium ions. The incorporation of both oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) and glutamic acid residues in the polymer offers thermal‐responsive property and cooperative binding sites with Ca²⁺ ions simultaneously. We present a systematic study of the influence of calcium ions on the gelation behaviors of these copolymers. It is observed that the addition of calcium ions induces the formation of hydrogels. Increasing the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions can significantly enhance the gelation ability of the samples as indicated by increased storage modulus and decreased sol‐to‐gel transition temperature (T_sol‐gel). We further demonstrate that the influence of monomer distribution on the gelation behavior is trivial, which is possibly due to similar morphology of the self‐assemblies. The obtained hydrogels exhibit thermal‐responsive gelation behavior mediated by ion cross‐linking, which enables them to be ideal smart hydrogel system for many applications.     

Poly(aryl ether) Dendrons with Monopyrrolotetrathiafulvalene Unit‐Based Organogels exhibiting Gel‐Induced Enhanced Emission (GIEE)

A series of poly(aryl ether) dendrons with a monopyrrolo‐tetrathiafulvalene unit linked through an acyl hydrazone linkage were designed and synthesized as low molecular mass organogelators (LMOGs). Two of the dendrons could gelate the aromatic solvents and some solvent mixtures, but the others could not gel all solvents tested except for n‐pentanol. A subtle change on the molecular structure produces a great influence on the gelation behavior. Note that the dendrons could form the stable gel in the DMSO/water mixture without thermal treatment and could also form the binary gel with fullerene (C₆₀) in toluene. The formed gels undergo a reversible gel–sol phase transition upon exposure to external stimuli, such as temperature and chemical oxidation/reduction. A number of experiments (SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, and XRD) revealed that these dendritic molecules self‐assembled into elastically interpenetrating one‐dimensional fibrillar aggregates and maintain rectangular molecular‐packing mode in organogels. The hydrogen bonding, π–π, and donor–acceptor interactions were found to be the main driving forces for formation of the gels. Moreover, the gel system exhibited gel‐induced enhanced emission (GIEE) property in the visible region in spite of the absence of a conventional fluorophore unit and the fluorescence was effectively quenched by introduction of C₆₀.     

Effects of phenolic compounds on gelation behavior of gelatin gels

The effects of phenolic additives on the gelation behavior of gelatin gels were investigated using thermomechanical analysis (TMA) for study of gel‐melting temperature, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) for study of gel‐storage modulus and gel‐aging stability, viscometry for study of gelation time, and texture analyzer for study of gel strength and gel melting. Thermodynamically, the addition of 1,3‐benzenediol, 1,4‐benzenediol or 1,3,5‐benzenetriol favored the gelation process of gelatin solutions (increases in T_m and aging stability) due to the introduction of extra physical crosslinks among gelatin chains through hydrogen bonding, while the addition of 1,2‐benzenediol had a negative effect (decreases in T_m and aging stability) possibly due to intra‐hydrogen bonding of the additive molecule itself. All the phenolic compounds had little effect on gel moduli. Kinetically, the introduction of 1,2‐benzenediol or 1,4‐benzenediol slowed the gelation process, while introduction of catechin, a polyphenol, accelerated the first stage of the gelation process. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 224–231, 2001     

Host–Guest Chemistry Within Cellulose Nanocrystal Gel Receptors

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) spontaneously assemble into gels when mixed with a polyionic organic or inorganic salt. Here, we have used this ion‐induced gelation strategy to create functional CNC gels with a rigid tetracationic macrocycle, cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene) ( CBPQT ⁴⁺). Addition of [ CBPQT ]Cl₄ to CNCs causes gelation and embeds an active host inside the material. The fabricated CNC gels can reversibly absorb guest molecules from solution then undergo molecular recognition processes that create colorful host–guest complexes. These materials have been implemented in gel chromatography (for guest exchange and separation), and as elements to encode 2‐ and 3‐dimensional patterns. We anticipate that this concept might be extended to design a set of responsive and selective gel‐like materials functioning as, for instance, water‐pollutant scavengers, substrates for chiral separations, or molecular flasks.     

Pyrene‐Based Fluorescent Supramolecular Hydrogel: Scaffold for Energy Transfer

The self‐assembled gelation of an amino‐acid‐based low molecular weight gelator having a pyrene moiety at the N terminus and a bis‐ethyleneoxy unit linked with succinic acid at the C terminus is reported. This amphiphile is capable of gelating binary mixtures (1/3 v/v) of CH₃CN/water, DMSO/water, and DMF/water, and the minimum gelation concentration (MGC) varied from 0.2 to 0.3 % w/v. The sodium salt of the amphiphile efficiently gelates water with an MGC of 1.5 % w/v. The participation of different noncovalent interactions in supramolecular gelation by formation of fibrillar networks was investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic methods. High mechanical strength of the supramolecular gels is indicated by storage moduli on the order of 10³ Pa. The hydrogel was utilized for energy transfer, whereby inclusion of only 0.00075 % w/v of acridine orange resulted in about 50 % quenching of the fluorescence intensity of the gel through fluorescence resonance energy transfer.     

Molecular weight effects on gelation and rheological properties of konjac glucomannan–xanthan mixtures

Fractions of konjac glucomannan (KGM) with various viscosity‐average molecular weights (M_v) ranging from 4.00 × 10⁵ to 2.50 × 10⁶ were prepared by hydrolysis degradation in hydrochloride acid/ethanol. Effect of M_v of KGM on the critical gelation temperature (T_gel) determined by Winter–Chambon criterion and the elasticity of KGM/xanthan mixed gels, a kind of binary gel formed by synergistic gelation, were investigated by dynamic viscoelastic measurements. It was shown that the value of T_gel of the gel was shifted to a higher temperature and the gel strength was enhanced when M_v of KGM was increased. The critical M_v (1.91 × 10⁶) was observed, above which the T_gel and elasticity of the mixed gels showed no or slight increase. It was suggested that T_gel and elasticity of KGM/xanthan mixed gels mainly depend on the structure of junction zones driven by the strong interaction between KGM and xanthan, which was gradually improved with increasing M_v of KGM. It was found that the critical strain and yield stress of the mixed gels increased monotonically with the increasing M_v of KGM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 313–321, 2010     

The effects of solvent type on the concentration dependence of the compression modulus of thermoreversible isotactic polystyrene gels

Solutions of isotactic polystyrene in either trans-decalin or 1-chlorodecane were transformed into gels by quenching from a high temperature (ca. 180°C) to ?20°C. The relaxation modulus in compression of these gels was measured over a range of concentrations of from 0.04 g/g to 0.40 g/g. At 22°C, the gels show a double logarithmic stress relaxation rate, m, which is higher than for PVC and gelatin gel systems. 120 s isochronal modulus concentration diagrams exhibit non-power law behavior, i.e., not only is the general trend such that the double logarithmic slope decreases with increasing concentration, but there are also regions in which abrupt changes in modulus occur over narrow ranges in concentrations. These features in the concentration dependence of the modulus are less pronounced than those found previously¹ in isotactic polystyrene/cis-decalin gels. The behavior is interpreted to be inconsistent with a fringed micelle picture of the gel structure. Preliminary results are reported indicating that polymer fraction and temperature of gel formation can significantly affect the modulus of the gels.     

Thermoresponsive conductivity of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/potassium chloride gel electrolytes

A series of thermoresponsive polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) in aqueous potassium chloride was synthesized by radiation‐induced polymerization and gelation using γ rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. The electric conductivity and swelling properties of the PGE were determined as a function of temperature. It was found that the electric conductivity of the PGE depended strongly on the swelling ratio; most notably, it changed drastically near the volume phase‐transition temperature of the PGE. The temperature/conductivity profile of the PGE exhibits a maximum peak at a certain temperature that is defined as the maximum conductivity temperature (T_max). The T_max of all of the PGEs prepared by low‐dose irradiation agreed with the temperature, near the end of the volume phase transition, where the PGE was completely shrunken. Consequently, the conductivity of gels should provide a good method with which the totally shrunken temperature of the thermoresponsive gels can be monitored with good temperature precision. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 134–141, 2002     

Hydrogen-bonded Supramolecular Hydrogels Derived from 3,3',4,4'-Benzophenonetetracarboxylic Acid and Hydroxylpyridines

In this paper, four gelators (defined as G1 – G4 ) were prepared from 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid (BPTA) and para‐hydroxylpyridine or meta‐hydroxylpyridine at molar ratios 1:2 and 1:4 respectively, and characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, UV‐Vis spectra and elemental analysis. Due to the amphiphilic features, all the gelators were able to gel water via cooling their aqueous solution under different stimulations. The structure of the assembling fibers and the macroscopic properties of the gels were investigated by multiple techniques. The results indicated that the minimum gelator concentration (MGC) increased by the order of G1 , G2 , G3 and G4 , while the gel‐to‐sol dissociation temperature (T_gel) decreased by the same order, which were explained from the assembling structures of the gels.     

Self-Foaming Metal-Organic Gels Based on Phytic Acid and Their Mechanical,Moldable, and Load-Bearing Properties.

A catalogue of metal-organic gels are synthesized from phytic acid (PA) and a diversity of metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, Ce³⁺, Y³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺) upon heating at 80 °C. PA−M gels have various morphologies, including irregular granular (PA−Fe, PA−Al, PA−Ce, PA−Cr, PA−Ni, PA−Co), spongy (PA−Y), and hollow tremella-like (PA−Cu) morphologies. Interestingly for PA−Fe-1 : 4 (PA:Fe³⁺=1 : 4) a large amount of gas is generated during the gelation process leading to a self-foaming gel. The PA−Fe-1 : 4 self-foaming gel shows reversible gel-sol phase transition. The gel is unusually weakened and transformed into a sol at room temperature, and the sol is reversed to gelation when heated again at 80 °C. PA−Fe-1 : 4 gel also shows shapeable and load-bearing properties, and it can bear up to 200 times of its weight, depending on the gas amount fixed in the foam gel and the aging time. This work provides a catalogue of self-foaming supramolecular gels with tunable properties based on naturally abundant resources.     

Synthetic thermally reversible gel systems. VI

Forming and conditioning thermally reversible aqueous gels of polyacrylyglycinamide (PAG) at various temperatures has little effect on either the melting point (T_m) of the gels or the heat of crosslinking (ΔH_c) except at temperatures where partial hydrolysis can occur. This is added evidence that unlike with gelatin, crystallite formation does not play a role in gel formation. For unfractioned PAG, the linear relationship between the logarithm of molecular weight and 1/T_m predicted and observed for gelatin gels, does not hold. With mixed gelatin-PAG gels, a gelatin/PAG ratio of ≥4 completely inhibits the formation of a PAG gel network. At lower gelatin/PAG ratios, the PAG network forms, and if gelatin is considered as an inert diluent, normal values for the melting points and ΔH_c for PAG gels are observed. At a gelatin/PAG ratio of 4, the presence of PAG reduces the ΔH_c for the gelatin gel by inhibiting the formation of as large or as ordered crystallite crosslinks. To reconcile the problem of aggregation preceding gelation one can assume that M?_w of an aggregate is a linear function of C². If this is done, the same relationship which normally relates C with T_m is obtained. The equilibrium swelling of PAG films in water at 25°C is markedly molecular weight-de-pendent and can vary from below 5 to about 40 wt-% polymer at equilibrium. It has been found that long-term dark storage of dry samples of PAG under ambient temperature conditions results in pronounced decreases in the intrinsic viscosities of their aqueous solutions. It is speculated that this results from weak links, perhaps peroxy, in the polymer backbone. The possible relationship of this phenomenon to the slow stage of the viscosity deterioration of aqueous polyacrylamide solutions is pointed out. The higher viscosity of low DP PAG in 2M NaCNS compared to H₂O and the larger percentage increse of [η] with increasing temperature in the latter, verify the greater solvent power of 2M aqueous thiocyanate for PAG. At a concentration level of 3%, aqueous PAG solutions are almost Newtonian whereas at higher concentrations (5%), the viscosity decreases appreciably with increasing rates of shear. The copolymerization of AG with isopropylacrylamide has been studied and the somewhat unusual results discussed. Copolymers containing an AG mole fraction greater than 0.40 do not exhibit a cloud point up to 100°C. If the isopropylacrylamide mole fraction approaches 0.60, the solutions do not gel down to 0°C. This ability to prepare copolymers over a narrow composition range that neither gel or undergo phase separation in the temperature range 0–100°C is probably related to the random distribution of monomer units in the copolymer backbone.     

Formation of hydrogen bonding in ionized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gels by continuous water exchange

The effects of continuous water exchange on the swelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐sodium acrylate) gel were studied. The diameter of gels and the Na⁺ concentration in the solvent were measured at several constant intervals after the solvent (the distilled deionized water) was exchanged. The diameter decreased at room temperature as the solvent was exchanged with water, and it continued to decrease even after more than about 97% of the initial Na⁺ diffused into the water. Thus, the final swelling ratio of the gel was only slightly larger than that of the neutral poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel. To reveal the structural change in molecular level, solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning, solid‐state ¹H combined rotation and multiple‐pulse spectroscopy, and swollen‐state ¹³C dipolar decoupled/magic‐angle spinning NMR experiments were carried out for several dried and swollen samples by varying the times of water exchange. As a result, the intensity and position of the carboxyl peak changed, and the relative intensity of the nonionized carboxyl groups of gels increased with an increasing number of water exchanges. These results indicated that hydrogen bonding was formed between the two, nonionized carboxyl groups (? COOH) and/or between the ? COOH and ? CONH? groups. The macroscopic polymer network shrinkage is discussed in terms of the replacement of counterions Na⁺ by H⁺ and of the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1090–1098, 2004     

Imine Gels Based on Ferrocene and Porphyrin and Their Electrocatalytic Property

A series of porphyrin‐based imine gels have been synthesized via dynamic covalent gelation between 5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐aminophenyl)‐21H,23H‐porphyrin (H₂TAPP) derivatives and various aldehyde compounds. The porphyrin‐ferrocene imine gels based on MTAPP (M=H₂, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Pd²⁺ and Zn²⁺) and ferrocene‐1,1′‐dicarbaldehyde (NA) display efficient HER, OER and ORR activities in alkaline media. Among the gels, CoTAPP‐NA shows an HER current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at low overpotential of 470 mV and small Tafel slope of 110 mV decade^?1 in alkaline media. CoTAPP‐NA also exhibits OER catalytic activity with low overpotential (416 mV for 10 mA cm^?2). CoTAPP‐NA shows ability in overall water splitting in alkaline media. In addition, CoTAPP‐NA exhibits onset potential (E_p) of 0.95 V and half‐wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.84 V in 1.0 mol L^?1 KOH solution for oxygen reduction. Moreover, the gel catalyst shows good stability.