A stimuli responsive two component supramolecular hydrogelator with aggregation-induced emission properties

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Development of novel hydrogelators is crucial for advanced materials.
• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active molecules offer unique luminescent properties.
• Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are of significant interest for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel hydrogelator based on guadiniumcarbonylpyrrole and AIE-active thioethers.
• To investigate the self-assembly behavior of the hydrogelator in aqueous media.
• To explore the formation of a stimuli-responsive hydrogel upon addition of malonic acid.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the novel hydrogelator.
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for fibril visualization.
• Gelation studies and stimuli-response testing (heat, shaking, pH).

Main Results:

• The hydrogelator self-assembles into weakly luminescent fibrils in aqueous media.
• Addition of malonic acid induces cross-linking of fibrils, forming a stable, highly emissive hydrogel.
• The resulting hydrogel exhibits responsiveness to heat, shaking, and pH variations.

Conclusions:

• A novel hydrogelator capable of forming stimuli-responsive hydrogels has been successfully developed.
• The synergistic combination of guadiniumcarbonylpyrrole and AIE-active thioethers is effective for hydrogel formation.
• The developed hydrogel holds potential for applications requiring sensitive and tunable materials.