A stimuli responsive two component supramolecular hydrogelator with aggregation-induced emission properties.

Aschmann, Dennis; Riebe, Steffen; Neumann, Thorben; Killa, Dennis; Ostwaldt, Jan-Erik; Wölper, Christoph; Schmuck, Carsten; Voskuhl, Jens · Soft Matter · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In this contribution we describe a novel hydrogelator based on four guadiniumcarbonylpyrrole units in combination with aggregation-induced emission active aromatic thioethers which undergo self-assembly into fibrills in aqueous media as visible in AFM and TEM measurements. These fibrills are weakly luminescent and unable to induce gelation. Upon addition of malonic acid a cross-linking of the single fibres was detected leading to the formation of a highly emissive stable hydrogel. This gel responds to several external stimuli such as heat, shaking as well as pH changes.