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Redox‐Responsive and Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Nanosheet Gels with High Young's Moduli
Author(s) -
Zheng Yijun,
Wang Dapeng,
Cui Jiaxi,
Mezger Markus,
Auernhammer Günter K.,
Koynov Kaloian,
Butt HansJürgen,
Ikeda Taichi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201800282
Subject(s) - supramolecular chemistry , nanosheet , ethylene glycol , materials science , intermolecular force , self assembly , intramolecular force , covalent bond , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , engineering
Supramolecular gels made from 2D building blocks are emerging as one of the novel multifunctional soft materials for various applications. This study reports on a class of supramolecular nanosheet gels formed through a reversible self‐assembly process involving both intramolecular folding and intermolecular self‐assembly of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(phenyl‐capped bithiophenes)]. Such hierarchical self‐assembled structure allows the gels to switch between sol and gel states under either redox or thermostimulus. Moreover, the gels illustrate high Young's moduli, compared to their controls that are made from the same oligo(ethylene glycol) and phenyl‐capped bithiophenes blocks but have highly covalent‐crosslinked structures. The example might open a window for emerging supramolecular 2D materials to develop mechanically robust and stimuli‐responsive soft materials without compromising their intrinsic functions.