A Dithienylethene‐Based Rewritable Hydrogelator |
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| Authors: | Dr. Jochem T. van Herpt Dr. Marc C. A. Stuart Prof. Dr. Wesley R. Browne Prof. Dr. Ben L. Feringa |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen (NL);2. Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen (NL) |
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| Abstract: | Dithienylethene photochromic switching units have been incorporated into a hydrogelating system based on a tripeptide motif. The resulting hybrid system provided both a photochromic response and the ability to gelate water under acidic and neutral conditions. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that the dithienylethene units are in sufficient proximity to each other to stack in gel fibers, with the tripeptide unit determining solubility. TEM measurements provided insight into the microscopic structure of the fibers formed. |
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| Keywords: | electron microscopy gels photochromism switching |
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