Hydrogels of Superlong Helices to Synthesize Hybrid Ag-Helical Nanomaterials
Guihua Li1, Yitong Wang1, Ling Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials, Shandong University , Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, China.
Abstract:
The gelation behavior of mixtures of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) and glutathione (GSH) in water is investigated. The system exhibits a structural transition of self-assembled hydrogels from nanofibers to nanohelix structures, and then to helical ribbons with increasing GSH concentration. Superlong helical nanofibers with left- and right-handed orientations are produced by tuning the concentration of GSH at a fixed concentration of NaDC. Random coil and β-sheet structures are significant for the formation of the helical structures, and are indicated by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The mechanical strength of the "weak" hydrogels is enhanced by the introduction of appropriate suitable amount of AgNO3. Furthermore, the controlled growth of Ag nanoparticles at spatially arranged locations along the nanohelices (hybrid Ag-helical nanomaterial) is readily achieved by UV reduction of Ag (I) ions on the supramolecular helical templates.
