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Fibrillar Networks of Glycyrrhizic Acid for Hybrid Nanomaterials with Catalytic Features
Author(s) -
Saha Abhijit,
Adamcik Jozef,
Bolisetty Sreenath,
Handschin Stephan,
Mezzenga Raffaele
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201411875
Subject(s) - catalysis , nanomaterials , materials science , nanotechnology , oxide , self healing hydrogels , nanoparticle , graphene , chemical engineering , chemistry , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Self‐assembly of the naturally occurring sweetening agent, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in water is studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering and microscopic techniques. Statistical analysis on atomic force microscopy images reveals the formation of ultralong GA fibrils with uniform thickness of 2.5 nm and right‐handed twist with a pitch of 9 nm, independently of GA concentration. Transparent nematic GA hydrogels are exploited to create functional hybrid materials. Two‐fold and three‐fold hybrids are developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) and in situ‐synthesized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the hydrogel matrix for catalysis applications. In the presence of GO, the catalytic efficiency of Au NPs in the reduction of p ‐nitrophenol to p ‐aminophenol is enhanced by 2.5 times. Gold microplate single crystals are further synthesized in the GA hydrogel, expanding the scope of these hybrids and demonstrating their versatility in materials design.