Title: Nanostructure and supramolecular assembly of binary mixed organogels via trigonal acids and bipyridine derivatives

Authors: Tifeng Jiao; Jian Liu; Qingrui Zhang; Wenfeng Guo; Sufeng Wang; Jingxin Zhou; Faming Gao

Addresses: Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China ' Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China

Abstract: Organogels have become one of the hot areas in soft matter and new energy field due to their scientific values and many potential applications. Herein we reported the gelation behaviours of binary trigonal acids and bipyridine derivatives mixtures in various organic solvents. Their gelation behaviours in 20 solvents were tested as new organic gelators. It was shown that the molecular shapes and substituent groups in these compounds played a crucial role in the gelation behaviour of the mixed compounds. While the trigonal acid with aromatic core can gel in acetone and ethanol, another trigonal acid with hydrophobic core can only gel in aniline. Morphological observations reveal that the molecular structures and the identity of the solvents are the main factors affecting the structures of the aggregates in the gels. Experimentally, different microstructures of the gels were observed. As example, the aggregates of trigonal compound in acetone, ethanol, or aniline adopt structures of belt-like aggregates or thin nanofibres, respectively.

Keywords: organogels; binary gels; trigonal acid; bipyridine derivatives; nanostructure; supramolecular assembly; nanotechnology; solvents; microstructure; acetone; ethanol; aniline; nanofibres.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2013.056064

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2013 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.375 - 386

Received: 29 Nov 2012
Accepted: 20 Feb 2013
Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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