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Cation‐Tuned Stimuli‐Responsive and Optical Properties of Supramolecular Hydrogels |
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| Authors: | Prof Masamichi Yamanaka Kazushige Yanai Yusuke Zama Junko Tsuchiyagaito Dr Masaru Yoshida Dr Ayumi Ishii Prof Miki Hasegawa |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan;2. College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan;3. Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan;4. (+81)?54‐237‐3384 |
| Abstract: | Hierarchical self‐assembly of an amphiphilic tris‐urea in aqueous media is shown. A mixture of the amphiphilic tris‐urea and an alkaline solution gave a viscous solution composed of fibrous aggregates. This viscous solution transformed into supramolecular hydrogels, which are capable of hierarchically organizing into higher‐order aggregates in response to several cationic triggers. The resulting supramolecular hydrogels were relatively stiff and their storage moduli attained over 103 Pa. The stimuli‐responsive and optical properties of the resulting hydrogels were influenced by the cationic trigger. Proton and calcium ion triggers gave pH‐ and chemical stimuli‐responsive hydrogels, respectively. A terbium ion trigger also provided a highly luminescent hydrogel through energy transfer from the tris‐urea to terbium. |
| Keywords: | energy transfer gels lanthanides self-assembly supramolecular polymers ureas |