title: Thermal annealing behaviour and gel to crystal transition of a low molecular weight hydrogelator.
abstract: The thermal annealing behaviour of an electrolyte-triggered calixarene hydrogelator is found to depend strongly on the specific metal chloride used. While the lithium chloride gel showed typical gel-sol transitions as a function of temperature, the magnesium chloride gel was found to repeatedly strengthen with heat-cool cycles. Structural investigations using small-angle neutron scattering, and scanning probe microscopy, suggest that the annealing behaviour is associated with a change in morphology of the fibrous structures supporting the gel. On prolonged standing at room temperature, the magnesium chloride gel underwent a gel-crystal transition, with the collapsing gel accompanied by the deposition of crystals of a magnesium complex of the proline-functionalised calix[4]arene gelator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Nanochemistry Research Institute, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia. t.becker@curtin.edu.au m.ogden@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: Ching Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mocerino
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker