Transformation of isotropic fluid to nematic gel triggered by dynamic bridging of supramolecular nanocylinders.
We have synthesized an amphiphilic triblock coil-rod-coil molecule consisting of a rigid aromatic building block and poly(ethylene oxide). The coil-rod-coil molecule was observed to assemble into a cylindrical micelle structure in aqueous solution. Notably, addition of a small amount of a rod-coil-rod molecule into the cylindrical micellar solution can induce the anisotropic gelation due to dynamic interconnection of adjacent cylindrical micelles via hydrophobic and pi-pi interactions. Depending on the concentration of the rod-coil-rod molecule, the nematic gel can be reversibly switched into an isotropic solution of cylindrical micelles.
Ryu
Ja-Hyoung
JH
Center for Supramolecular Nano-Assembly and Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
Lee
Myongsoo
M
D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D044085:Microfluidics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D005782:Gels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008823:Micelles; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols