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Nanofibrillar Stimulus‐Responsive Cholesteric Microgels with Catalytic Properties
Author(s) -
Cho Sangho,
Li Yunfeng,
Seo Minseok,
Kumacheva Eugenia
Publication year - 2016
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.201607406
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , supramolecular chemistry , nanoparticle , catalysis , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , cellulose , nanocrystal , composite number , chemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
We report composite stimulus‐responsive cholesteric catalytically active microgels derived from filamentous supramolecular building blocks: cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The variation in the microgel dimensions and pitch in response to the change in ambient conditions was governed by the polymer component. The cholesteric morphology of the microgels resulted from the self‐organization of CNCs in spherical confinement. The microgels exhibited excellent structural integrity and functioned as microreactors in catalytic hydrolysis reactions and in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Because of these collective properties, the reported microgels show much promise for application in the design of functional responsive materials.