Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 377, Issue 6602, Pages 213-+Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3438
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Funding
- NWO (TOP-PUNT) [10018944]
- Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science [024.001.035]
- European Commission [SYNMAT-788618-1, H2020-MSCA-IF-2017-794016]
- French National Research Agency [ANR-17EURE-0016]
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Synthetic multicomponent supramolecular systems exhibit fascinating properties through competitive interactions. This study presents the integration of two reversible phase transitions based on dilution-induced assembly process. Small-sized aggregates were formed by the co-assembly of water-soluble benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide and a surfactant, which were transformed into supramolecular polymer networks by dilution. Additionally, the introduction of orthogonal interaction allowed for fully reversible hydrogel-solution-hydrogel-solution transitions.
Fascinating properties are displayed by synthetic multicomponent supramolecular systems that comprise a manifold of competitive interactions, thereby mimicking natural processes. We present the integration of two reentrant phase transitions based on an unexpected dilution-induced assembly process using supramolecular polymers and surfactants. The co-assembly of the water-soluble benzene-1,3, 5-tricarboxamide (BTA-EG(4)) and a surfactant at a specific ratio yielded small-sized aggregates. These interactions were modeled using the competition between self-sorting and co-assembly of both components. The small-sized aggregates were transformed into supramolecular polymer networks by a twofold dilution in water without changing their ratio. Kinetic experiments show the in situ growth of micrometer-long fibers in the dilution process. We were able to create systems that undergo fully reversible hydrogel-solution-hydrogel-solution transitions upon dilution by introducing another orthogonal interaction.
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