Weiss RG. The past, present, and future of molecular gels. What is the status of the field, and where is it going?
J Am Chem Soc 2014;
136:7519-30. [PMID:
24836858 DOI:
10.1021/ja503363v]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 469] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A Perspective is presented on the history and current understanding of molecular gels and the factors that must be considered to characterize them. The abilities of the most important structural, dynamic, and rheological tools available currently to provide the information necessary to follow the formation of a molecular gel from its initial sol phase and then to define it at different distance and time scales are discussed. Approaches to determining a priori when a molecule will gelate a selected liquid, as well as possible methodologies for overcoming current limitations in understanding molecular gels, are presented. Finally, some of the many potential and realized applications for these materials are enumerated.
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