Gelation of perfluorinated liquids by N-alkyl perfluoroalkanamides

Gels comprised of low-molecular-mass organic gelators (LMOGs), N-alkyl perfluoroalkanamides F(CF2)(m)CONH(CH2)(n)H; FmNHn], and several perfluorinated liquids are described. The gelation ability of the amides has been compared to that of two analogous alkyl perfluoroalkanoates. The properties of these gels have been correlated with the N-alkyl and (to a lesser extent) perfluoroalkyl chain lengths in the FmNHn by X-ray diffraction, polarizing optical microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and small-angle neutron scattering. The gels are thermally reversible and require generally very low concentrations (<2 wt %) of LMOG. Several of the gels have been stable at room temperature for >1 year, thus far. The incompatibility of the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon segments causes the LMOGs to aggregate into lamellae within the fibrils that constitute the basic unit of the gel networks. IR spectroscopic studies of these gels indicate that additional ordering within the aggregate units is enforced by intermolecular H-bonding among amide groups.