Multi-Scale Investigation of Supramolecular Organogels Assembled From Pt(II)-Salphen Complexes

Supramolecular metallogels based on platinum(II) complexes have attracted growing interest due to their tunable photophysical properties. However, the potential of Pt(II)-salphen complexes as low-molecular-weight gelators remains largely unexplored. Here, we report a series of Pt(II)-salphen complexes bearing alkyl chains of varying lengths and their organogelation properties. The complexes with the longer chain gelled aromatic solvents, forming hierarchical fibrillar networks, whose mechanical strength scales with alkyl chain length. Multi-scale analysis by cryo-TEM, SAXS, rheology, XRD, and solid-state NMR revealed the contributions of Pt-Pt metallophilic interactions alongside π-π stacking in the formation of the fibrils. This work opens a new avenue for tailored luminescent soft materials.