Coordination Polymer Gels with Modular Nanomorphologies, Tunable Emissions, and Stimuli-Responsive Behavior Based on an Amphiphilic Tripodal Gelator

An Encyclopedic Compendium on Chemosensing Supramolecular Metal-Organic Gels

Chemosensing, an interdisciplinary scientific domain, plays a pivotal role ranging from environmental monitoring to healthcare diagnostics and (inter)national security. Metal-organic gels (MOGs) are recognized for their stability, selectivity, and responsiveness, making them valuable for chemosensing applications. Researchers have explored the development of MOGs based on different metal ions and ligands, allowing for tailored properties and sensitivities, and have even demonstrated their applications as portable sensors such as paper-based test strips for practical use. Herein, several studies related to MOGs development and their applications in the chemosensing field via UV-visible or luminance along with electrochemical approach are presented. These papers explored MOGs as versatile materials with their use in sensing bio or environmental analytes. This review provides a foundational understanding of key concepts, methodologies, and recent advancements in this field, fostering the scientific community.

Regulating Gelation and Luminescence Behaviors of Single Pyridine-Functionalized Cyanostilbene via Metal Ions

Luminescent metal-organic gels (LMOGs) have gained much attention due to their crucial role in visual recognition and information encryption. However, it is still a challenge to simplify the design of ligands and enrich the stimuli responses in LMOGs simultaneously. Herein, although a single pyridine ligand cannot form gel alone, after coordination with metal ions, two kinds of LMOGs have been obtained with pyridine-metal complexes, where metal ions can act as cogelators and regulate luminescence of the pyridine-functionalized cyanostilbene ligand at the same time. The effects of metal types on the fluorescence emission color, the fluorescence quantum yield, the fibril network, and the assembly mode of the gel have been investigated systematically. In addition, two competitive ligands were used to regulate the fluorescence and phase transition of the gel. Finally, the logic gates and the information encryption and decryption have been successfully constructed. This kind of material is expected to be applied to fluorescence display, advanced information encryption, high-tech anticounterfeit, and so forth.

Tough, Eu3+ -Induced Luminescent Hydrogel as Flexible Chemosensor for Real-Time Quantitative Detection of Zn2+ Ion

Herein, a novel tough luminescent hydrogel with Europium is fabricated using a facile copolymerization process by introducing 2,2':6',2-terpyridine (TPy) into a dual physical cross-linked hydrogel. The obtained P(NAGA-co-MAAc)/Eu/TPy (x) (x refers to the feed ratio of NAGA to MAAc) hydrogels not only show outstanding mechanical performances (fracture strength, ≈2.5 MPa), but also give a special ability of rapid detection to low concentrations of zinc ions. Attractively, the theoretical limits of detection (LOD) of the hydrogel sensors are calculated as 1.6 µm, which is acceptable within the WHO limit. Furthermore, the continuous change in fluorescence of P(NAGA-co-MAAc)/Eu/TPy (10) strips upon contact with Zn2+ can be clearly observed by the naked eyes with the aid of a portable UV lamp, resulting in semi-quantitative naked-eyes detection through a standard colorimetric card. Moreover, by identifying the RGB value of the hydrogel sensor, it can also realize quantitative analysis. Therefore, excellence in sensing, simplicity in structure, and convenience in using make P(NAGA-co-MAAc)/Eu/TPy (10) hydrogel as a superior fluorescent chemosensor of Zn2+ ions.

Interfacial Self-Assembly of Organized Ultrathin Films of Tripodal Metal-Terpyridyl Coordination Polymers as Luminophores and Heterogeneous Catalysts for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Metal-directed interfacial self-assembly of well-defined coordination polymer (CP) ultrathin films can control the metal complex arrangement and distribution at the molecular level, providing a convenient route for the design and fabrication of novel opto-electrical devices and heterogeneous catalysts. Here, we report the assembly of two series of CP multilayers with the transition-metal ions of Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Tb³⁺ as connectors and tripodal terpyridyl ligands of 4,4',4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(1-(4-([2,2':6',2″-terpyridin]-4'-yl)benzyl)pyridin-1-ium) (TerPyTa) and 4,4',4″-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(1-(4-([2,2':6',2″-terpyridin]-4'-yl)benzyl)pyridin-1-ium) (TerPyBen) as linkers at the air-water interface. The as-prepared Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films display strong luminescence, with the emission wavelength and relative intensity dependent on both the metal ions and linkers; among them, the Zn-TerPyTa and Zn-TerPyBen CPs give off the strongest luminescent emission centered at about 370 nm with an emission lifetime of approximately 0.2-0.3 ns. The Tb-TerPyTa CPs can give off emission at approximately 490, 546, 586, and 622 nm, attributed to the ⁵D₄ to ⁷F_3-6 electron transitions of typical Tb³⁺ ions. Finally, these CP LB films can act as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for the CO₂ reduction to selectively produce CO. The catalytic efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the experimental conditions (light sensitizer, electron donor, and water content) and CP composition (metal ion and ligand) with an excellent yield of up to 248.1 mmol g^-1. In particular, it is revealed that, under the same conditions, the catalytic efficiency of the Fe-TerPyTa CP LB film is nearly 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the other metalated complexes investigated in the homogeneous system. UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry studies demonstrated that the dual active sites of Fe-terpyridine and TerPyTa units contribute to the enhanced catalytic activity. This work provides an effective method to introduce the earth-abundant metal complexes into CP films to construct efficient noble-metal-free photocatalysts for the CO₂ reduction.

Recent advances in the development of europium(III) and terbium(III)-based luminescent supramolecular metallogels

In the recent past, special attention has been paid to the development of metallogels as novel luminescent materials from rationally designed gelators with lanthanide ions, especially europium (Eu(III)) and terbium (Tb(III)) metal ions. Lanthanide (Ln(III)) based metallogels possess various useful properties with an extensive range of applications in the field of advanced materials, and electronic and bio-technologies. Lanthanide ions in coordination with appropriate sensitizer ligands can reproduce metal-based optical, redox, and electronic properties in soft gel materials. The optical properties of the luminescent Ln(III) based metallogels can be tuned over the complete visible spectrum (400-750 nm) including the generation of white light by mixing both Eu(III) and Tb(III) with the ligand in various stoichiometric ratios. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the lanthanide-ligand (Ln-N) coordination bond allows the Ln(III) based metallogels to respond to various external stimuli. Luminescent self-healing supramolecular gels using organic ligands as 'hosts' and Ln(III) ions as 'guests' are also a current topic of research interest. In this review, we discuss and summarize some selected recent examples of newly developed luminescent Eu(III) and Tb(III) based supramolecular metallogels with potential applications in the fields of optoelectronic devices, stimuli responsiveness, self-healing, luminescent films, and sensors.

Recent Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Metallogels

Recently, stimuli-responsive supramolecular gels have received significant attention because their properties can be modulated through external stimuli such as heat, light, electricity, magnetic fields, mechanical stress, pH, ions, chemicals and enzymes. Among these gels, stimuli-responsive supramolecular metallogels have shown promising applications in material science because of their fascinating redox, optical, electronic and magnetic properties. In this review, research progress on stimuli-responsive supramolecular metallogels in recent years is systematically summarized. According to external stimulus sources, stimuli-responsive supramolecular metallogels, including chemical, physical and multiple stimuli-responsive metallogels, are discussed separately. Moreover, challenges, suggestions and opportunities regarding the development of novel stimuli-responsive metallogels are presented. We believe the knowledge and inspiration gained from this review will deepen the current understanding of stimuli-responsive smart metallogels and encourage more scientists to provide valuable contributions to this topic in the coming decades.

Metallogels: a novel approach for the nanostructuration of single-chain magnets

In this study we demonstrate that single-chain magnets (SCMs) can be assembled in gel phase and transferred intact on surface. We take advantage of a family of SCMs based on Tb^III ions and nitronyl-nitroxides radicals functionalized with short alkyl chains known to form crystalline supramolecular nanotubes interacting with heptane acting as crystallizing solvent. When the radicals are functionalized with long aliphatic chains a robust gel is formed with similar structural and functional properties respect to its crystalline parent. Indeed, a small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) study unambiguously demonstrates that the gel is made of supramolecular nanotubes: the high stability of the gel allows the determination from SAXS data of precise nanotube metrics such as diameter, helical pitch and monoclinic cell of the folded 2D crystal lattice along the tube direction. Additionally, static and dynamic magnetic investigations show the persistence of the SCM behavior in the metallogel. Last, on-surface gelation provides thick films as well as sub-monolayer deposits of supramolecular nanotubes on surface as evidenced by atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations. This paves the road toward magnetic materials and devices made of SCMs profiting of their isolation on surface as individual chains.

Complexing Eu3+/Tb3+ in a Nanoscale Postmodified Zr-MOF toward Temperature-Modulated Multispectrum Chromism

In recent years, extensive research has been directed toward the successful preparation of nanoscale luminescent thermometers with high sensitivities operative in a broad temperature range. To achieve this goal, we have devised a unique design and facile multistep synthesis of Zr-ctpy-NMOF@Tb_xEu_y compounds by confining Ln-complexes (Ln = Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺) into a robust nanoscale Zr-NMOF (MOF-808) via postsynthetic modification. Covalent grafting of 4-(4'-carboxyphenyl)-2,2':6,2″terpyridine ligand (ctpy) with a high triplet state energy and corresponding immobilization of bimetallic Ln³⁺ ions resulted in yellow light-emitting Zr-ctpy-NMOF@Tb_1.66Eu_0.14 to achieve a sensitivity of 5.2% K^-1 (thermal uncertainty dT < 1 K) operative over a broad temperature range of 25-400 K. To defeat the odds related to the detection of minute temperature changes using luminescent materials, we prepared a white light-emitting Zr-ctpy-NMOF@Tb_1.4Eu_0.31 that showed temperature-modulated multispectrum chromism where the color drastically changes from green (at 25 K, Q.Y.: 20.21%) to yellowish-green (at 200 K, Q.Y.: 23.13%) to white (at 300 K, Q.Y.: 26.4%) to orange (at 350 K, Q.Y.: 26.93%) and finally red (at 400 K, Q.Y.: 28.2%) with a high energy transfer efficiency of 49.8%, which is further supported by electron-phonon coupling.

One Luminescent Cadmium Iodide with Free Bifunctional Azole Sites as a Triple Sensor for Cu2+, Fe3+, and Cr2O72- Ions

The exploration of an excellent triple sensor for monitoring Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Cr₂O₇^2- ions is of exceeding significance because of their serious effects on the human body. Herein, optically active 1H-3,5-bis(pyrazinyl)-1,2,4-triazole (Hbpt) with triazolyl and pyrazinyl groups was applied for the construction of a new type of organic hybrid cadmium iodide [Cd₆I₈(bpt)₄(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (1) incorporating a hitherto-unknown [Cd₃I₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺ trimeric-cationic unit, which shows an orange light emission at 589 nm with a large Stokes shift of 246 nm. In virtue of the existence of free bifunctional azole sites as the receptors, 1 exhibits a highly selective and sensitive sensing property toward Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Cr₂O₇^2- ions in aqueous solution with lower detection limits of 0.70∼4.46 ppm, which offers the sole example of cadmium iodide as an excellent triple sensor for detecting Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Cr₂O₇^2- ions. Moreover, temperature-dependent luminescent determinations also reveal that 1 can be used as the potential luminescent molecular thermometer.

Stimuli-Responsive Zinc (II) Coordination Polymers: A Novel Platform for Supramolecular Chromic Smart Tools

The unique role of the zinc (II) cation prompted us to cut a cross-section of the large and complex topic of the stimuli-responsive coordination polymers (CPs). Due to its flexible coordination environment and geometries, easiness of coordination-decoordination equilibria, "optically innocent" ability to "clip" the ligands in emissive architectures, non-toxicity and sustainability, the zinc (II) cation is a good candidate for building supramolecular smart tools. The review summarizes the recent achievements of zinc-based CPs as stimuli-responsive materials able to provide a chromic response. An overview of the past five years has been organised, encompassing 1, 2 and 3D responsive zinc-based CPs; specifically zinc-based metallorganic frameworks and zinc-based nanosized polymeric probes. The most relevant examples were collected following a consequential and progressive approach, referring to the structure-responsiveness relationship, the sensing mechanisms, the analytes and/or parameters detected. Finally, applications of highly bioengineered Zn-CPs for advanced imaging technique have been discussed.

Multicolour lanthanide(III) porous 1D coordination polymers: tunable wide spectrum emission and efficient CuII sensing

Five isostructural 1D porous coordination polymers (PCPs) with a general formula of {[M(L)(DMF)(H₂O)]·1.5H₂O}_n [M = Tb^III (1), Eu^III (2), Yb^III (3), Nd^III (4) and Er^III (5)] have been synthesized using a flexible tripodal organic linker (L) and characterized. Tb^III (1) and Eu^III (2) PCPs exhibit metal-based green and red emission, respectively, whereas Yb^III (3), Nd^III (4) and Er^III (5) PCPs show near-infrared (NIR) emission. Doping Eu^III in 1 in a precisely controlled stoichiometric amount leads to different mixed lanthanide PCPs, {[Tb_1-xEu_x(L)(DMF)(H₂O)]·1.5H₂O}_n (1a-1f) that show tunable emission including that of bright white light. The PCPs decorated with Lewis basic -O- binding sites make them potential candidates for the binding and selective sensing of traces of Cu^II ions, and this is illustrated for PCP 2 (limit of detection = 0.69 ± 0.02 ppm). The photoluminescence of 2 can be recovered by the introduction of a chelating ligand ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) without any structural disintegration, indicating the potential of the lanthanide PCPs for future sensing applications.

A facile gelator based on phenylalanine derivative is capable of forming fluorescent Zn-metallohydrogel, detecting Zn2+ in aqueous solutions and imaging Zn2+ in living cells

Supramolecular hydrogels are attracting soft materials with potential applications. In this study, we synthesized a facile gelator (named 2-QF) based on phenylalanine derivative with a Quinoline group. 2-QF can assemble to form hydrogels at room temperature in different colors under low pH values. Moreover, 2-QF was triggered to form a yellow metallohydrogel (2-QF-Zn) at high pH by the coordination between 2-QF and Zn²⁺. 2-QF-Zn metallohydrogel showed excellent multi-stimuli responsiveness, especially the reversible "on-off" luminescence switching, as induced by base/acid. In addition, at a low concentration, 2-QF can selectively and visibly identify Zn²⁺ through fluorescence enhancement, and can detect Zn²⁺ at physiological pH as a chemosensor. Remarkably, 2-QF and 2-QF-Zn exhibited an excellent biocompatibility without cell cytotoxicity, and 2-QF is able to penetrate live HeLa cells and image intracellular Zn²⁺ by a turn-on fluorescent response, which makes it a potential candidate for biomedical applications.

White-light emission from the quadruple-stranded dinuclear Eu(iii) helicate decorated with pendent tetraphenylethylene (TPE)

The hybrid film doped with a quadruple-stranded Eu³⁺ helicate displayed tuneable emission and white light.

A novel sensitive and selective chemosensor for fluorescent detection of Zn2+ in cosmetics creams based on a covalent post functionalized Al-MOF

A material was fabricated based on the Schiff base reaction to achieve covalent attachment of NH₂-MIL-53(Al) and 3-formylsalicylic acid for fluorimetric detection of Zn²⁺ ions based on inhibition and destruction of CN isomerization and ESIPT.

Photo-modulated wide-spectrum chromism in Eu3+ and Eu3+/Tb3+ photochromic coordination polymer gels: application in decoding secret information

Photo-switching emission of photochromic materials has paramount importance in the field of optoelectronics. Here, we report synthesis and characterization of a dithienylethene (DTE) based photochromic low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) and self-assembly with lanthanide (Eu3+ and Tb3+) ions to form a photochromic coordination polymer gel (pcCPG). Based on DTE ring opening and closing, the TPY-DTE gel shuttles from pale-yellow coloured TPY-DTE-O to dark blue coloured TPY-DTE-C and vice versa upon irradiating with UV and visible light, respectively, and both the photoisomers show distinct optical properties. Furthermore, integration of Eu3+ and Tb3+ lanthanides with TPY-DTE resulted in red and green emissive Eu-pcCPG (Q.Y. = 18.7% for the open state) and Tb-pcCPG (Q.Y. = 23.4% for the open state), respectively. The photoisomers of Eu-pcCPG exhibit photo-switchable spherical to fibrous reversible morphology transformation. Importantly, an excellent spectral overlap of the Eu3+ centred emission and absorption of DTE in the closed form offered photo-switchable emission properties in Eu-pcCPG based on pcFRET (energy transfer efficiency >94%). Further, owing to the high processability and photo-switchable emission, the Eu-pcCPG has been utilized as invisible security ink for protecting confidential information. Interestingly, mixed Eu3+/Tb3+ pcCPG exhibited photo-modulated multi-spectrum chromism reversibly where the colour changes from yellow, blue, and red to green and vice versa under suitable light irradiation.

Developing a new chemosensor targeting zinc ion based on two types of quinoline platform

A chemosensor DQ (2-(2-(quinolin-2-yl)hydrazinyl)-N-(quinolin-8-yl)acetamide), based on two quinoline moieties, has been synthesized. DQ could detect zinc ion through fluorescence turn-on in aqueous media. Limit of detection was calculated as 0.07 μM, far lower than the standard of WHO for zinc ion. The practicality of DQ was demonstrated via the successful results of reusability with EDTA, easy detection on the test strip, and precise quantification in real water samples. Additionally, sensor DQ could be applied to bioimaging of zinc ion in zebrafish. Sensing process of zinc ion by DQ was studied through fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy, ¹H NMR titration, and ESI-mass spectrometry.

Recent advances in coordination-driven polymeric gel materials: design and applications

Recently, research attention has been directed towards the coordination driven synthesis of gels, including coordination polymer gels (CPGs) and metal-organic cage based gels, which have shown applications in diverse fields, including optoelectronics, catalysis, sensing, gas-storage, and self-healing. A wide variety of CPGs and metal-organic cage based gels have been reported, to date, by choosing the right combination of metal ions and rationally designed organic linkers. In this article, we focused on recent developments in CPGs and metal-organic cage based gels and their applications.

Redox-Responsive Colloidal Particles Based on Coordination Polymers Incorporating Viologen Units

Colloidal particles based on supramolecular polymers are emerging as promising functional materials because of their intrinsic dynamic features and the possibility of stimuli responsivity. In this work, ≈200 nm self-assembled redox-responsive colloidal particles made of 1D-coordination polymers were readily prepared. In these metallopolymers, organic entities made of bis(viologen) groups covalently associated with terpyridine units are spontaneously bridged by Zn²⁺ cations through the formation of coordination bonds. The properties of these particles were analyzed and their redox activities investigated. Upon reduction of the viologen units, the formation of π-dimers between the reduced viologen moieties was demonstrated by spectroscopic experiments. It was shown that intermolecular π-dimers (i.e., between different polymer chains) that do not exist in homogeneous polymer solutions were, nevertheless, formed in the particle's structure because of the effects of confinement. The presence of these π-dimers allows stabilization of the charge in the colloids.

Recent advances in soft functional materials: preparation, functions and applications

Synthetic materials and biomaterials with elastic moduli lower than 10 MPa are generally considered as soft materials. Research studies on soft materials have been boosted due to their intriguing features such as light-weight, low modulus, stretchability, and a diverse range of functions including sensing, actuating, insulating and transporting. They are ideal materials for applications in smart textiles, flexible devices and wearable electronics. On the other hand, benefiting from the advances in materials science and chemistry, novel soft materials with tailored properties and functions could be prepared to fulfil the specific requirements. In this review, the current progress of soft materials, ranging from materials design, preparation and application are critically summarized based on three categories, namely gels, foams and elastomers. The chemical, physical and electrical properties and the applications are elaborated. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of soft materials to researchers in different disciplines.

Metallohydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence, High Stretchability, Shape-Memory, and Self-Healing Properties

Aiming at the problem that the reported smart optical metallohydrogels were limited with poor mechanical properties, we reported here a novel smart optical metallohydrogel (Al-hydrogel) with excellent elongation, shape-memory ability, self-healing property, and controllable fluorescence intensity. The Al-hydrogel was obtained by the HHPMA-Al³⁺ and carboxylate-Al³⁺ coordination after one-pot micellar copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc), acrylamide (AAm), and hydrophobic arylhydrazone-based ligand (HHPMA). This hydrogel was able to extend up to 5000% of its original length without fracture. Its emission intensity was tunable by OH^-/H⁺ or Zn²⁺/AAc and increased by 500% with 0.1 M OH^- or Zn²⁺. Its tunable fluorescence enabled us to repeatedly pattern it. A reversible system consisting of Fe³⁺/H⁺, was implemented to control the shape of the Al-hydrogel, endowing the Al-hydrogel with shape-memory ability. This highly stretchable and multifunctional Al-hydrogel has potential applications in information transmission, wearable devices, and flexible sensors.

Effect of charge transfer and structural rigidity on divergent luminescence response of a metal organic framework towards different metal ions: luminescence lifetime decay experiments and DFT calculations

We have thoroughly studied the luminescence behaviour of a cadmium based MOF, [Cd(C12N2H8)(C7N1O4H3)] {C12N2H8 = 1,10-phenanthroline, C7N1O4H3 = 2,5-pyridine dicarboxylate}, 1. Both steady-state and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopic experiments were performed to understand the dissimilar responses of compound 1 towards different metal ions in aqueous medium. Upon excitation at 280 nm, compound 1 showed a luminescence spectrum centered at 365 nm, which exhibited a three-fold turn-on in the presence of a trace amount of Zn2+ in aqueous solution, whereas in the presence of Co2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Fe2+ and Cu2+ the luminescence of compound 1 got largely quenched. Compound 1 did not show any response in the presence of other common metal ions such as K+, Mg2+, Na+, Mn2+, and Cr3+. By analysing all the experimental results, we successfully explained the versatile luminescence behaviour of compound 1. The turn-on of luminescence in the presence of Zn2+ ions was due to coordination bond formation and enhancement of the rigidity of compound 1 which resulted in the reduction of non-radiative decay processes to a large extent. The quenching of luminescence in the presence of transition metal ions was found to be static in nature, and was due to the possibility of ligand to metal charge transfer using the vacant d-orbital of the metal ions. In the case of Hg2+ which is a closed cell heavy metal ion, the quenching of luminescence was also static in nature and was due to a two-way charge transfer mechanism. We have also performed density functional theory calculations and obtained supportive results for the proposed mechanisms of luminescence turn-on and quenching. Moreover, compound 1 could be established as a selective and efficient sensor of Zn2+ in aqueous solution even in the presence of Cd2+ and other metal ions.

A mixed ligand approach towards lanthanide-based gels using citric acid as assembler ligand: white light emission and environmental sensing

Fine tuning the optical properties of lanthanide-based gels using low molecular weight gelators has several advantages over the polymeric gelator analogues. Herein, we have prepared a lanthanide-based gel using low molecular weight citric acid as the assembler ligand and the optical properties of the gel were fine-tuned, utilizing a mixed ligand approach, enabling white light emission and environmental sensing (pH and temperature). The coligand utilized in the study was 4'-(4-bromophenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine. The resultant mixed-ligand gel exhibited green and red emissions in the presence of Tb(iii) ions and Eu(iii) ions, respectively. White light emission was achieved, with CIE coordinates (0.33, 0.32), in the bimetallic Tb/Eu metallogel formed by the precise control over Tb/Eu ratio. The correlated color temperature (CCT) for white-light-emitting gel was calculated, and the value of 5473 K suggests that the system generates cool white light. While most of the reported low molecular weight gelators exhibit on-off responses to stimulus at a particular value, the present system is capable of gradually monitoring changes for stimuli such as pH and temperature over a wide range (pH from 4-11 and temperature from 20 to 70 °C). The unique design strategy of the gel and the characteristic physicochemical properties of the lanthanide ions resulted in the unprecedented ability of the system to monitor changes in environmental stimuli over a considerable range.

Metallogels: Availability, Applicability, and Advanceability

Introducing metal components into gel matrices provides an effective strategy to develop soft materials with advantageous properties such as: optical activity, conductivity, magnetic response activity, self-healing activity, catalytic activity, etc. In this context, a thorough overview of application-oriented metallogels is provided. Considering that many well-established metallogels start from serendipitous discoveries, insights into the structure-gelation relationship will offer a profound impact on the development of metallogels. Initially, design strategies for discovering new metallogels are discussed, then the advanced applications of metallogels are summarized. Finally, perspectives regarding the design of metallogels, the potential applications of metallogels and their derivative materials are briefly proposed.

Infinite coordination polymer networks: metallogelation of aminopyridine conjugates and in situ silver nanoparticle formation

Herein we report silver(i) directed infinite coordination polymer network (ICPN) induced self-assembly of low molecular weight organic ligands leading to metallogelation. Structurally simple ligands are derived from 3-aminopyridine and 4-aminopyridine conjugates which are composed of either pyridine or 2,2'-bipyridine cores. The cation specific gelation was found to be independent of the counter anion, leading to highly entangled fibrillar networks facilitating the immobilization of solvent molecules. Rheological studies revealed that the elastic storage modulus (G') of a given gelator molecule is counter anion dependent. The metallogels derived from ligands containing a bipyridine core displayed higher G' values than those with a pyridine core. Furthermore, using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and ¹H-¹⁵N two-dimensional (2D) correlation NMR spectroscopy, we show that the tetracoordination of silver ions enables simultaneous coordination polymerization and metallosupramolecular cross-linking. The resulting metallogels show spontaneous, in situ nanoparticle (d < 2-3 nm) formation without any additional reducing agents. The silver nanoparticle formation was followed using spectroscopic studies, and the self-assembled fibrillar networks were imaged using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging.

Luminescent lanthanide (Eu(iii)) cross-linked supramolecular metallo co-polymeric hydrogels: the effect of ligand symmetry

Two lanthanide luminescent naphthyl-dipicolinic amide (dpa) methacrylate monomers for the synthesis of grafted supramolecular co-polymer gels (hydrogels), and their use as additional crosslinks in robust covalently cross-linked HEMA hydrogels is presented.

Luminescent europium(iii) and terbium(iii) complexes of β-diketonate and substituted terpyridine ligands: synthesis, crystal structures and elucidation of energy transfer pathways

A series of coordinatively saturated Ln^III complexes: [Ln(R-TPY)(TTA)₃] (1–6) were designed and structurally characterized and plausible energy transfer (ET) pathways determined using a theoretical method.

Recent advances in the development of luminescent lanthanide-based supramolecular polymers and soft materials

Combination of different properties has always proven effective in the generation of hybrid materials with novel interesting properties. Ln(iii) containing materials possessing multiple properties are useful in a wide range of applications. In this article, key and recent examples of metallo-supramolecular polymers in the formation of gels, soft polymeric materials and films are discussed. There is a focus on the use of trivalent lanthanide, Ln(iii), ions to provide soft materials with advanced mechanical and luminescence properties for applications in developing electronic- and bio-technologies. This frontier article has been written with the intention of reaching a broad range of readers from various backgrounds such as chemistry, materials chemistry, spectroscopy and biochemistry. Additionally, we evaluate how the unique and versatile properties of such hybrid materials can be tuned and explored to enhance the efficiency, as well as research, for new ones. Finally, an assessment of the current state-of-the-art and our outlook for the future of this field is made.

Dynamic Coordination of Eu-Iminodiacetate to Control Fluorochromic Response of Polymer Hydrogels to Multistimuli

New fluorochromic materials that reversibly change their emission properties in response to their environment are of interest for the development of sensors and light-emitting materials. A new design of Eu-containing polymer hydrogels showing fast self-healing and tunable fluorochromic properties in response to five different stimuli, including pH, temperature, metal ions, sonication, and force, is reported. The polymer hydrogels are fabricated using Eu-iminodiacetate (IDA) coordination in a hydrophilic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) matrix. Dynamic metal-ligand coordination allows reversible formation and disruption of hydrogel networks under various stimuli which makes hydrogels self-healable and injectable. Such hydrogels show interesting switchable ON/OFF luminescence along with the sol-gel transition through the reversible formation and dissociation of Eu-IDA complexes upon various stimuli. It is demonstrated that Eu-containing hydrogels display fast and reversible mechanochromic response as well in hydrogels having interpenetrating polymer network. Those multistimuli responsive fluorochromic hydrogels illustrate a new pathway to make smart optical materials, particularly for biological sensors where multistimuli response is required.

Pure white light emission and charge transfer in organogels of symmetrical and unsymmetrical π-chromophoric oligo-p-(phenyleneethynylene) bola-amphiphiles

The gelation behavior of two novel π-chromophoric bola-amphiphiles has been studied and solution processable pure white light emitting and CT gels have been realized.

Healable terpyridine-based supramolecular gels and the luminescent properties of the rare earth metal complex

The self-assembly pattern of terpyridine-based gelator C6S is proposed and the multicolor luminescent metallogel C6S–Eu/Tb investigated.