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Elasticity-Dependent Fast Underwater Adhesion Demonstrated by Macroscopic Supramolecular Assembly
Guannan Ju1, Mengjiao Cheng1, Fengli Guo1
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering & Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials & Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|June 1, 2018
Summary
Macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) relies on substrate elasticity. A critical modulus of 2.5 MPa governs building block assembly, enabling faster, stronger underwater adhesion with softer materials.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) associates visible building blocks via non-covalent interactions.
- Existing MSA research lacks general design rules for building blocks and clear assembly mechanisms.
- Substrate properties significantly influence MSA, but their specific role remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a general design rule for building blocks in macroscopic supramolecular assembly.
- To elucidate the assembly mechanism by correlating it with substrate elasticity.
- To apply the findings to develop materials for rapid underwater adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Designed three model systems with varying elastic moduli.
- Correlated macroscopic supramolecular assembly (MSA) probability with substrate elasticity.
- Investigated the effects of substrate deformability on multivalency in host/guest systems.
Main Results:
- Proposed an elastic-modulus-dependent rule: building blocks with modulus < 2.5 MPa achieve MSA.
- Demonstrated that soft substrates (0.5 MPa) enable rapid underwater adhesion (<10 s).
- Achieved one order of magnitude higher adhesion strength with soft substrates compared to rigid ones (2.5 MPa).
Conclusions:
- Substrate elasticity is a critical factor governing macroscopic supramolecular assembly.
- The developed elastic-modulus-dependent rule provides a design guideline for MSA systems.
- This principle facilitates the creation of advanced materials for high-performance underwater adhesion.
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