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Randle R, Fuentes-Caparrós AM, Cavalcanti LP, Schweins R, Adams DJ, Draper ER. Investigating Aggregation Using In Situ Electrochemistry and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2022; 126:13427-13432. [PMID: 35983316 PMCID: PMC9376955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Using small-angle neutron scattering to investigate the aggregation of self-assembling molecules is well established. Some of these molecules are electrochemically useful, for example, in electrochromic devices. Electrochemistry can also be used in some cases to induce aggregation. Here, we describe an approach whereby electrochemistry can be directly carried out on a sample in the neutron beam, allowing us to monitor changes directly in situ. We exemplify with two examples but highlight that there are many other potential opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leide P. Cavalcanti
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source User Office, Science and Technology Facilities
Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K.
| | - Ralf Schweins
- Large
Scale Structures Group, Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 20156, F-38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Dave J. Adams
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Emily R. Draper
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
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Mears LE, Draper ER, Castilla AM, Su H, Zhuola, Dietrich B, Nolan MC, Smith GN, Doutch J, Rogers S, Akhtar R, Cui H, Adams DJ. Drying Affects the Fiber Network in Low Molecular Weight Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:3531-3540. [PMID: 28631478 PMCID: PMC5686561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Low molecular weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of a suitable small molecule gelator into a three-dimensional network of fibrous structures. The gel properties are determined by the fiber structures, the number and type of cross-links and the distribution of the fibers and cross-links in space. Probing these structures and cross-links is difficult. Many reports rely on microscopy of dried gels (xerogels), where the solvent is removed prior to imaging. The assumption is made that this has little effect on the structures, but it is not clear that this assumption is always (or ever) valid. Here, we use small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe low molecular weight hydrogels formed by the self-assembly of dipeptides. We compare scattering data for wet and dried gels, as well as following the drying process. We show that the assumption that drying does not affect the network is not always correct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura
L. E. Mears
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Emily R. Draper
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, WESTChem, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Ana M. Castilla
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Hao Su
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Zhuola
- Department
of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United Kingdom
| | - Bart Dietrich
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, WESTChem, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C. Nolan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, WESTChem, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory N. Smith
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - James Doutch
- STFC
ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Rogers
- STFC
ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Riaz Akhtar
- Department
of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, United Kingdom
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Dave J. Adams
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, WESTChem, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
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Li W, Che X, Chen F, Zhang C, Zhang T, Wang H, Bai B, Li M. Observation of Morphology and Structure Evolution during Gelation of a Bis(Anhydrazide) Derivative. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:8795-8801. [PMID: 28846418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b06965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A new bis(anhydrazide) derivative containing cyclohexyl terminal groups (compound 1) was synthesized, and its gelation process was investigated. Compound 1 showed both thermal-induced gelation (T-gel) and sonication-induced gelation (S-gel) in alcohols. We investigated the gelation process of compound 1 in ethanol by different techniques. It was demonstrated that gelator 1 in ethanol underwent a transition from a clear solution through a turbid suspension to an opaque gel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that the turbid suspension consisted of separated clew-like spheres, connected spheres, and short nanorods, whereas the opaque gel consisted of fibers or bundles of fiber networks. Molecules packed loosely into an unknown phase in the spheres, whereas they packed tightly into a hexagonal columnar phase with a = 1.62 nm in the fibers. Intermolecular H-bonding between -C═O and -N-H was revealed to be the driving force for gelation, and the strength of the H-bonding became stronger in the fibers than in the spheres. We propose that the gel of compound 1 in ethanol consisting of fibers is a stable phase compared to the turbid suspension consisting of spheres or short nanorods, which is considered to be metastable. The kinetics of gelation of gelator 1 in ethanol under sonication suggest that the gelation process is a two-stage kinetic pathway with fractal values of 1.27 and 0.84. Our study hence provides new insights into the formation of fibers and the structural evolution of the gelation process and can be exploited to achieve a detailed understanding of gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Che
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chunxue Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Tianren Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Binglian Bai
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Min Li
- Key Laboratory for Automobile Materials (JLU), Ministry of Education, College of Materials of Science and Engineering, and ‡Key Laboratory of Coherent Light and Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of Ministry Education, College of Physics, Jilin University , Changchun 130012, P. R. China
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Martin AD, Wojciechowski JP, Robinson AB, Heu C, Garvey CJ, Ratcliffe J, Waddington LJ, Gardiner J, Thordarson P. Controlling self-assembly of diphenylalanine peptides at high pH using heterocyclic capping groups. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43947. [PMID: 28272523 PMCID: PMC5341053 DOI: 10.1038/srep43947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), it is shown that the existence of pre-assembled structures at high pH for a capped diphenylalanine hydrogel is controlled by the selection of N-terminal heterocyclic capping group, namely indole or carbazole. At high pH, changing from a somewhat hydrophilic indole capping group to a more hydrophobic carbazole capping group results in a shift from a high proportion of monomers to self-assembled fibers or wormlike micelles. The presence of these different self-assembled structures at high pH is confirmed through NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy, scanning probe microscopy and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D. Martin
- School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jonathan P. Wojciechowski
- School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Andrew B. Robinson
- School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Celine Heu
- School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Biomedical Imaging Facility (BMIF), Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Garvey
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2231, Australia
| | - Julian Ratcliffe
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Ave, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | | | - James Gardiner
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Ave, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Pall Thordarson
- School of Chemistry, The Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and the ARC Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Barker EC, Martin AD, Garvey CJ, Goh CY, Jones F, Mocerino M, Skelton BW, Ogden MI, Becker T. Thermal annealing behaviour and gel to crystal transition of a low molecular weight hydrogelator. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:1006-1011. [PMID: 28083581 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm02431a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The thermal annealing behaviour of an electrolyte-triggered calixarene hydrogelator is found to depend strongly on the specific metal chloride used. While the lithium chloride gel showed typical gel-sol transitions as a function of temperature, the magnesium chloride gel was found to repeatedly strengthen with heat-cool cycles. Structural investigations using small-angle neutron scattering, and scanning probe microscopy, suggest that the annealing behaviour is associated with a change in morphology of the fibrous structures supporting the gel. On prolonged standing at room temperature, the magnesium chloride gel underwent a gel-crystal transition, with the collapsing gel accompanied by the deposition of crystals of a magnesium complex of the proline-functionalised calix[4]arene gelator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Barker
- Department of Chemistry and Nanochemistry Research Institute, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
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Lohrman J, Telikepalli H, Johnson TS, Jackson TA, Day VW, Bowman-James K. Pyrazinetetracarboxamide: A Duplex Ligand for Palladium(II). Inorg Chem 2016; 55:5098-100. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lohrman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Hanumaiah Telikepalli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Thomas S. Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Timothy A. Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Victor W. Day
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Kristin Bowman-James
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
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Draper ER, McDonald TO, Adams DJ. A low molecular weight hydrogel with unusual gel aging. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:6595-7. [PMID: 25775220 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc01334h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe a dipeptide hydrogel with unusual aging characteristics. Over time, a transformation from a turbid gel to a transparent gel occurs which is initiated from the air-water interface. Here, we investigate this transition and discuss the implications of this aging on the bulk properties of the gel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Draper
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
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