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Surface-controlled spatially heterogeneous physical properties of a supramolecular gel with homogeneous chemical composition

Yang, Bin; Lledos, Marina; Akhtar, Riaz; Ciccone, Giuseppe; Jiang, Long; Russo, Emanuele; Rajput, Sunil; Jin, Chunyu; Angelereou, Maria Galini Faidra; Arnold, Thomas; Rawle, Jonathan; Vassalli, Massimo; Marlow, Maria; Adams, Dave J.; Zelzer, Mischa

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Authors

Bin Yang

Marina Lledos

Riaz Akhtar

Giuseppe Ciccone

LONG JIANG LONG.JIANG@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Surface Analytical Officer

Emanuele Russo

Sunil Rajput

Chunyu Jin

Maria Galini Faidra Angelereou

Thomas Arnold

Jonathan Rawle

Massimo Vassalli

Dave J. Adams



Abstract

Controlling supramolecular self-assembly across multiple length scales to prepare gels with localised properties is challenging. Most strategies concentrate on fabricating gels with heterogeneous components, where localised properties are generated by the stimuli-responsive component. Here, as an alternative approach, we use a spiropyran-modified surface that can be patterned with light. We show that light-induced differences in surface chemistry can direct the bulk assembly of a low molecular weight gelator, 2-NapAV, meaning that mechanical gel properties can be controlled by the surface on which the gel is grown. Using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering, we demonstrate that the origin of the different gel properties relates to differences in the architectures of the gels. This provides a new method to prepare a single domain (i.e., chemically homogeneous) hydrogel with locally controlled (i.e., mechanically heterogeneous) properties.

Citation

Yang, B., Lledos, M., Akhtar, R., Ciccone, G., Jiang, L., Russo, E., …Zelzer, M. (2021). Surface-controlled spatially heterogeneous physical properties of a supramolecular gel with homogeneous chemical composition. Chemical Science, 12(42), 14260-14269. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sc04671c

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 9, 2021
Online Publication Date Oct 11, 2021
Publication Date Nov 14, 2021
Deposit Date Sep 8, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Chemical Science
Print ISSN 2041-6520
Electronic ISSN 2041-6539
Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Issue 42
Pages 14260-14269
DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sc04671c
Keywords General Chemistry
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7354675
Publisher URL https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/SC/D1SC04671C

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