Abstract
Low molecular weight supramolecular gels consist of small molecules (gelators) that in an appropriate solvent self-assemble into nano- or micro-scale network structures resulting in the formation of a gel. Most supramolecular gels consist of two parts, namely the solvent and the gelator. However, the concept of multi-component supramolecular gels, in which more than one compound is added to the solvent, offers a facile way (e.g. by changing the ratio of the different components) to tailor the properties of the gel. The simplest multi-component gels consist of two components added to the solvent and are the most widely studied to date. There are three general classes of such multi-component gels that have been investigated. The first class requires all the added components to access the gel; that is, no component forms a gel on its own. A second class uses two (or more) gelators which can either co-assemble or self-sort into distinct assemblies and the final class consists of one (or more) gelator and one (or more) non-gelling additive which can impact the assembly process of the gelator and therefore the gel's properties.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6089-6102 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Chemical Society Reviews |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 Sep 21 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
Cite this
Supramolecular gels formed from multi-component low molecular weight species. / Buerkle, Lauren E.; Rowan, Stuart J.
In: Chemical Society Reviews, Vol. 41, No. 18, 21.09.2012, p. 6089-6102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Supramolecular gels formed from multi-component low molecular weight species
AU - Buerkle, Lauren E.
AU - Rowan, Stuart J.
PY - 2012/9/21
Y1 - 2012/9/21
N2 - Low molecular weight supramolecular gels consist of small molecules (gelators) that in an appropriate solvent self-assemble into nano- or micro-scale network structures resulting in the formation of a gel. Most supramolecular gels consist of two parts, namely the solvent and the gelator. However, the concept of multi-component supramolecular gels, in which more than one compound is added to the solvent, offers a facile way (e.g. by changing the ratio of the different components) to tailor the properties of the gel. The simplest multi-component gels consist of two components added to the solvent and are the most widely studied to date. There are three general classes of such multi-component gels that have been investigated. The first class requires all the added components to access the gel; that is, no component forms a gel on its own. A second class uses two (or more) gelators which can either co-assemble or self-sort into distinct assemblies and the final class consists of one (or more) gelator and one (or more) non-gelling additive which can impact the assembly process of the gelator and therefore the gel's properties.
AB - Low molecular weight supramolecular gels consist of small molecules (gelators) that in an appropriate solvent self-assemble into nano- or micro-scale network structures resulting in the formation of a gel. Most supramolecular gels consist of two parts, namely the solvent and the gelator. However, the concept of multi-component supramolecular gels, in which more than one compound is added to the solvent, offers a facile way (e.g. by changing the ratio of the different components) to tailor the properties of the gel. The simplest multi-component gels consist of two components added to the solvent and are the most widely studied to date. There are three general classes of such multi-component gels that have been investigated. The first class requires all the added components to access the gel; that is, no component forms a gel on its own. A second class uses two (or more) gelators which can either co-assemble or self-sort into distinct assemblies and the final class consists of one (or more) gelator and one (or more) non-gelling additive which can impact the assembly process of the gelator and therefore the gel's properties.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84868155026&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c2cs35106d
DO - 10.1039/c2cs35106d
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22677951
AN - SCOPUS:84868155026
VL - 41
SP - 6089
EP - 6102
JO - Chemical Society Reviews
JF - Chemical Society Reviews
SN - 0306-0012
IS - 18
ER -