title: Freezing capture of polymorphic aggregates of bolaamphiphilic (L)-valine-based molecular hydrogelators.
abstract: Nanostructured xerogels have been prepared by the freeze-drying of hydrogels and aggregates formed by bolaamphiphilic L-valine derivatives after aging under different environmental conditions. A wide variety of shapes and sizes has been achieved by a simple methodology. These nanostructures have been studied by SEM and WAXD and a dramatic influence of structural flexibility on the kinetics of aggregation has been observed. Such flexibility and a modulation of the hydrophobic effect have shown a profound influence in the packing of these compounds and revealed a high degree of polymorphism.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló (Spain), Fax: (+34) 964728214.
authors.forename: Vicent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Nebot
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díaz-Oltra
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández Prieto
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miravet
authors.forename: Beatriu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Escuder
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D005615:Freezing; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014633:Valine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014633:Valine
keywords: hydrogels; nanostructures; polymorphism; self-assembly; supramolecular