Self-assembly and gel formation processes in an aqueous solution of L-cysteine and silver nitrate

The experimental and theoretical study of self-assembly and gel formation processes in an aqueous solution of L-cysteine and silver nitrate (CSS) is performed. A method to obtain CSS-based hydrogel is described. Its characteristic feature is the formation of a spatial gel network at a low concentration of the dispersed phase (～0.01%) and the thixotropic behavior. The experimental examination of this system provides the formulation of a phenomenological model of the gel formation. Based on it, an atomistic computer model is made to verify our assumptions. It is shown that due to the formation of donor-acceptor sulfur-silver bonds there form clusters from silver mercaptide (SM) zwitterions, from which in turn filamentous aggregates form. An analysis of the molecular configurations formed shows that the filamentous aggregates are stabilized by the interaction of 3 ?NH ₃ ⁺ and ?C(O)O^? groups belonging to SM zwitterions in the composition of the neighboring clusters. The obtained conclusions underlie the mesoscopic model based on which we managed to illustrate the processes of generation and growth of filamentous aggregates in large spatial scales.