A novel supramolecular organogel based on acylhydrazone functionalized pillar[5]arene acts as an I<sup>-</sup> responsive smart material.

Lin, Qi; Jiang, Xiao-Mei; Liu, Lu; Chen, Jin-Fa; Zhang, You-Ming; Yao, Hong; Wei, Tai-Bao · Soft Matter · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A novel organic gelator (PZ) has been synthesized by rationally connecting a pillar[5]arene moiety and a bis(hexadecyloxy)phenyl functionalized acylhydrazone moiety. PZ could self-assemble into a supramolecular polymer and form a stable organogel (OPZ) in cyclohexanol by multi-self-assembly driving forces such as C-Hπ, ππ, vdW and hydrogen bonding interactions. The organogel (OPZ) shows blue aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Interestingly, the organogel OPZ could sense iodide ions (I<sup>-</sup>) in the gel-gel state with high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit of OPZ for I<sup>-</sup> is 9.4 × 10<sup>-8</sup> M, indicating high sensitivity to I<sup>-</sup>. Furthermore, a thin film based on OPZ was prepared, which could be used as a smart material for the detection of I<sup>-</sup> as well as a fluorescent security display material.