Open AccessNon-equilibrium dissipative supramolecular materials with a tunable lifetime
Author(s) -
Marta TenaSolsona,
Benedikt Rieß,
Raphael K. Grötsch,
Franziska C. Löhrer,
Caren Wanzke,
Benjamin T. Käsdorf,
Andreas R. Bausch,
Peter MüllerBuschbaum,
Oliver Lieleg,
Job Boekhoven
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
nature communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.559
H-Index - 365
ISSN - 2041-1723
DOI - 10.1038/ncomms15895
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , metastability , dissipative system , molecule , supramolecular chemistry , chemical physics , kinetics , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , polymer chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Many biological materials exist in non-equilibrium states driven by the irreversible consumption of high-energy molecules like ATP or GTP. These energy-dissipating structures are governed by kinetics and are thus endowed with unique properties including spatiotemporal control over their presence. Here we show man-made equivalents of materials driven by the consumption of high-energy molecules and explore their unique properties. A chemical reaction network converts dicarboxylates into metastable anhydrides driven by the irreversible consumption of carbodiimide fuels. The anhydrides hydrolyse rapidly to the original dicarboxylates and are designed to assemble into hydrophobic colloids, hydrogels or inks. The spatiotemporal control over the formation and degradation of materials allows for the development of colloids that release hydrophobic contents in a predictable fashion, temporary self-erasing inks and transient hydrogels. Moreover, we show that each material can be re-used for several cycles.