Journal
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
Volume 18, Issue 9, Pages 2692-2699Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201102137
Keywords
electron microscopy; gels; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry; X-ray diffraction
Categories
Funding
- EPSRC [EP/G026203/1]
- UROP from University of Reading
- Diamond Light Source Ltd
- MCI [CTQ2009-13961]
- Universitat Jaume I [P1-1B2009-42, P1-1B2007-11]
- Generalitat Valenciana
- University of Reading
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/C533526/1, EP/G026203/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- EPSRC [EP/G026203/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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A focused library of potential hydrogelators each containing two substituted aromatic residues separated by a urea or thiourea linkage have been synthesised and characterized. Six of these novel compounds are highly efficient hydrogelators, forming gels in aqueous solution at low concentrations (0.030.60 wt?%). Gels were formed through a pH switching methodology, by acidification of a basic solution (pH 14 to 4) either by addition of HCl or via the slow hydrolysis of glucono-d-lactone. Frequently, gelation was accompanied by a dramatic switch in the absorption spectra of the gelators, resulting in a significant change in colour, typically from a vibrant orange to pale yellow. Each of the gels was capable of sequestering significant quantities of the aromatic cationic dye, methylene blue, from aqueous solution (up to 1.02 g of dye per gram of dry gelator). Cryo-transmission electron microscopy of two of the gels revealed an extensive network of high aspect ratio fibers. The structure of the fibers altered dramatically upon addition of 20 wt?% of the dye, resulting in aggregation and significant shortening of the fibrils. This study demonstrates the feasibility for these novel gels finding application as inexpensive and effective water purification platforms.
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