title: Nanocomposite made of an oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)-based trihybrid thixotropic metallo(organo)gel comprising nanoscale metal-organic particles, carbon nanohorns, and silver nanoparticles.
abstract: A silver ion (Ag(+))-triggered thixotropic metallo(organo)gel of p-pyridyl-appended oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives (OPVs) is reported for the first time. Solubilization of single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) in solutions of the pure OPVs as well as in the metallogels mediated by π-π interactions has also been achieved. In situ fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the SWCNH-doped dihybrid gel leads to the formation of a trihybrid metallogel. The mechanical strength of the metallogels could be increased stepwise in the order: freshly prepared gel<dihybrid gel<trihybrid gel. Microscopic studies of the trihybrid gel indicate the formation of three distinct morphologies, that is, nanoscale metal-organic particles (NMOPs), flowerlike aggregates of SWCNHs and AgNPs, and also their integration with each other. Detailed studies suggest lamellar organizations of the linear metal-ligand complexes in the NMOPs, which upon association create a three-dimensional network that eventually immobilizes the solvent molecules.
authors: Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka (India).
authors: Subham
authors: S
authors: Bhattacharjee
authors: Suman K
authors: SK
authors: Samanta
authors: Parikshit
authors: P
authors: Moitra
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Pramoda
authors: Ram
authors: R
authors: Kumar
authors: Santanu
authors: S
authors: Bhattacharya
authors: C N R
authors: CN
authors: Rao
keywords: carbon nanohorns; liquid crystals; metallogels; organic-inorganic hybrid composites; thixotropy