Ultrasound-induced controllable morphology and growth dimension in a dihydrazide-based self-assembly system

Ultrasound-assisted fabrication of biopolymer materials: A review

There is an urgent need to develop technologies that can physically manipulate the structure of biocompatible and green polymer materials in order to tune their performance in an efficient, repeatable, easy-to-operate, chemical-free, non-contact, and highly controllable manner. Ultrasound technology produces a cavitation effect that promotes the generation of free radicals, the fracture of chemical chain segments and a rapid change of morphology. The cavitation effects are accompanied by thermal, chemical, and biological effects that interact with the material being studied. With its high efficiency, cleanliness, and reusability applications, ultrasound has a vast range of opportunity within the field of natural polymer-based materials. This work expounds the basic principle of ultrasonic cavitation and analyzes the influence that ultrasonic strength, temperature, frequency and induced liquid surface tension on the physical and chemical properties of biopolymer materials. The mechanism and the influence that ultrasonic modification has on materials is discussed, with highlighted details on the agglomeration, degradation, morphology, structure, and the mechanical properties of these novel materials from naturally derived polymers.

Hydrogen bonds-triggered differential extraction efficiencies for bifenthrin by three polymeric ionic liquids with varying anions based on FT-IR spectroscopy

Herein, we fabricated three imidazolium-based polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) with different anions (P[VEIM]BF4, P[VEIM]PF6 and P[VEIM]Br), and analyzed their differential extraction efficiencies for bifenthrin through H-bonding induced effects. Three PILs all presented an irregular block structure with rough surface and lower specific-surface area (SSA, 11.2-18.7 m2 g-1) than carbon-based nanomaterials. They formed hydrogen bonds with free-water molecules in the lattice of PILs, including C2,4,5-H⋯O-H, Br⋯H-O-H⋯Br, O-H⋯Br, C2,4,5-H⋯F-P, P-F⋯H-O-H⋯F-P, C2,4,5-H⋯F-B and B-F⋯H-O-H⋯F-B. After extraction, the O-H stretching-vibration peak was prominently intensified, whereas the C-H bond varied slightly concomitant with reduced B-F and P-F vibration. Theoretically, the C-H vibration should become more intense in the C4,5-H⋯H2O and C2-H⋯H2O bonds after extraction in contrast to before extraction. These contrary spectral changes demonstrated that the hydrogen bonds between cations in the PILs and free-water molecules were broken after extraction, yielding the H-bonding occurrence between bifenthrin and H-O-H in the lattice. As a time indicator for the free-water binding and releasing process, the highest slope for the plot of I t /I 0 against time implied that the shortest time was required for P[VEIM]PF6 to reach an adsorption equilibrium. Overall, the strong hydrophobicity, small SSA and electrostatic-repulsion force for P[VEIM]PF6 are all not conducive to its efficient adsorption. Beyond our anticipation, P[VEIM]PF6 provided the highest extraction recovery for bifenthrin up to 92.4% among three PILs. Therefore, these data lead us to posit that the above high efficiency results from the strongest H-bonding effect between P[VEIM]PF6 and bifenthrin. These findings promote our deep understanding of PILs-triggered differential efficiency through a H-bonding induced effect.

Self-assembled sonogels formed from 1,4-naphthalenedicarbonyldinicotinic acid hydrazide

Ultrasound-induced gelation of a novel type of gelator, 1,4-naphthalenedicarbonyl- dinicotinic acid hydrazide, is reported. The gelator self-assembled into various architectures in different solvents.

Ultrasound-induced emission color and transmittance changes of organogel based on "trans-to-cis" isomerization

Herein, instant and precise control of fluorescent emission color and transmittance could be carried out by ultrasound-promoted gel-to-gel transition of naphthalimide derivatives containing CN unit. It is proved that ultrasound triggered an irreversible and efficient configuration transformation of N1 from "trans to cis" form in gel state, which is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction and not observed in the solution state.

Gels with sense: supramolecular materials that respond to heat, light and sound

Advances in the field of supramolecular chemistry have made it possible, in many situations, to reliably engineer soft materials to address a specific technological problem. Particularly exciting are "smart" gels that undergo reversible physical changes on exposure to remote, non-invasive environmental stimuli. This review explores the development of gels which are transformed by heat, light and ultrasound, as well as other mechanical inputs, applied voltages and magnetic fields. Focusing on small-molecule gelators, but with reference to organic polymers and metal-organic systems, we examine how the structures of gelator assemblies influence the physical and chemical mechanisms leading to thermo-, photo- and mechano-switchable behaviour. In addition, we evaluate how the unique and versatile properties of smart materials may be exploited in a wide range of applications, including catalysis, crystal growth, ion sensing, drug delivery, data storage and biomaterial replacement.

Observation of Morphology and Structure Evolution during Gelation of a Bis(Anhydrazide) Derivative

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.

Gelation-driven selection in dynamic covalent C 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 C/CN exchange

Gelation-driven amplification of an optimal gel-forming constituent is demonstrated for dynamic covalent libraries based on CC/CN exchange, through selection of the components leading to the most stable gel.

Knoevenagel barbiturate derivatives bearing long alkyl chains were proven to form organogels in suitable solvents based on supramolecular interactions. Their reaction with imines allows for component exchange through CC/CN recombination. The effect of various parameters (solvents, chain length, and temperature) on the CC/CN exchange reaction has been studied. Mixing Knoevenagel compound K and imine I-16 in a 1 : 1 ratio generated a constitutional dynamic library containing the four constituents K, I-16, K′-16, and I′. The reversible exchange reaction was monitored by ¹H-NMR, showing marked changes in the fractions of the four constituents on sol–gel interconversion as a function of temperature. The library composition changed from statistical distribution of the four constituents in the sol state to selective amplification of the gel forming K′-16 constituent together with that of its agonist I′. The process amounts to self-organization driven component selection in a constitutional dynamic organogel system undergoing gelation. This process displays up-regulation of the gel-forming constituent by component redistribution through reversible covalent connections.

Ultrasound- and Temperature-Induced Gelation of Gluconosemicarbazide Gelator in DMSO and Water Mixtures

We have developed amphiphilic supramolecular gelators carrying glucose moiety that could gel a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water upon heating as well as ultrasound treatment. When the suspension of gluconosemicarbazide was subjected to ultrasound treatment, gelation took place at much lower concentrations compared to thermal treatment, and the gels transformed into a solution state at higher temperatures compared to temperature-induced gels. The morphology was found to be influenced by the nature of the stimulus and presence of salts such as KCl, NaCl, CaCl₂ and surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate) at a concentration of 0.05 M. The gel exhibited impressive tolerance to these additives, revealing the stability and strength of the gels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological studies supported better mechanical strength of ultrasound-induced (UI) gels over thermally-induced (TI) gels.

Cyclodextrin-Assisted Two-Component Sonogel for Visual Humidity Sensing

In this work, two naphthalimide-based compounds, 1a and 1b, have been designed and synthesized. Both compounds can form stable two-component gels in n-propanol or n-butanol upon addition of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) followed by sonication at room temperature. Interestingly, the 1a/α-CD gel is thixotropic and very sensitive to water. Addition of a small amount of water induces rapid gel collapse, allowing further development of the gel as a visual relative humidity sensor. Specificity of the sensor has been confirmed using several approaches, such as scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy experiments. The results show that α-CD acts as a junction for the assembly of 1a or 1b through hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl and amide groups. Upon addition of water, α-CD interacts with the adamantane group of 1a via an incomplete host-guest encapsulation, resulting in the dissociation of the hydrogen-bonding-assisted two-component assembly, accompanied by gel collapse.

Gelation behaviour and gel properties of two-component organogels containing a photoresponsive gelator

Herein, we report the gelation behaviour and gel properties of two-component organogels consisting of 1,4-bis[(3,4-bisoctyloxyphenyl) hydrozide] phenylene (BPH-8) and a photoresponsive gelator 4-[3,5-(bisoctyloxyphenyl)]-9-anthracene formyl hydrazine (MB8).

Solvent-dependent gelation behaviour and liquid crystal properties of a bent-core dihydrazide derivative

Both liquid crystalline gel and crystalline gel are obtained by changing the solvent from non-polar to polar. Liquid crystalline gels exhibit better elastic property over crystalline gel from EtOH. And their corresponding xerogels show distinct mesophase behaviour.

Oscillations of Bubble Shape Cause Anomalous Surfactant Diffusion: Experiments, Theory, and Simulations

We investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, the role played by the oscillations of the cell membrane on the capture rate of substances freely diffusing around the cell. To obtain quantitative results, we propose and build up a reproducible and tunable biomimetic experimental model system to simulate the phenomenon of an oscillation-enhanced (or depressed) capture rate (chemoreception) of a diffusant. The main advantage compared to real biological systems is that the different oscillation parameters (type of deformation, frequencies, and amplitudes) can be finely tuned. The model system that we use is an anchored gas drop submitted to a diffusive flow of charged surfactants. When the surfactant meets the surface of the bubble, it is reversibly adsorbed. Bubble oscillations of the order of a few nanometers are selectively excited, and surfactant transport is accurately measured. The surfactant concentration past the oscillating bubbles was detected by conductivity measurements. The results highlight the role of surface oscillations on the diffusant capture rate. Particularly unexpected is the onset of intense overshoots during the adsorption process. The phenomenon is particularly relevant when the bubbles are exposed to intense forced oscillations near resonance.

Gelation behaviour of a bent-core dihydrazide derivative: effect of incubation temperature in chloroform and toluene

In this work, a new kind of gelator, 1,3-bis[(3,4-dioctyloxy phenyl) hydrazide]phenylene (BP8-C), containing two dihydrazide units as the rigid bent-core, has been synthesized and investigated. It was demonstrated that BP8-C is an efficient gelator which can gel various organic solvents, such as ethanol, benzene, toluene, chloroform, etc. Both an opaque gel (O-gel) and a transparent gel (T-gel), which is more stable, were obtained with BP8-C in chloroform at different incubation temperatures. Kinetic data based on fluorescence spectra revealed that the T-gels showed a larger Avrami parameter (n = 1.44 at 20 °C) than that of the O-gels (n = 1.21 for gelation at temperatures below 0 °C). While BP8-C did form the opaque gel in toluene, gelation took longer at lower incubation temperatures and even precipitated out below 0 °C. The kinetic Avrami analysis on sols of BP8-C with different concentrations shows a two-phrase mechanism, i.e. the n values are between 0.88 and 1.74 followed by 1.69 and 3.01 throughout the temperature range of 5 °C and 35 °C for 5.34 mg mL(-1) BP8-C in toluene, indicating that the fibers formed first and then bundled to produce compact networks. We propose that supersaturation governs the formation of gel in chloroform and that the diffusion process denominates gelation in toluene. XRD and FT-IR measurements confirmed that the xerogels prepared at different temperatures in different solvents exhibited a Col(h) structure and that there are three molecules in one columnar slice. Our results indicate that the gelation process, morphology of the gels and thus the final properties of the gels depend strongly on the preparation conditions such as temperature, solvent, concentration, etc.

Ultrasound-accelerated organogel: application for visual discrimination of Hg2+ from Ag+

The organogelator TN was able to selectively sense Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺via fluorogenic and chromogenic signal outputs; the gel of TN could be further developed to discriminate Hg²⁺ from Ag⁺via visual changes.

Selective and visual Ca(2+) ion recognition in solution and in a self-assembly organogel of the terpyridine-based derivative triggered by ultrasound

A new kind of terpyridine-based Ca(2+) sensor TS was designed and studied based on the internal charge transfer (ICT). In the diluted solution state, TS sensed Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions among test ions via an "off-on" approach as seen from fluorescence spectra of test ions. Moreover, TS was able to form stable fluorescent gels in organic solvents accelerated by ultrasound, indicating the ultrasound responsive properties of TS molecules. The S-gel of TS could be successfully used to selectively recognize Ca(2+) through fluorescent emission color and morphological changes, which was different from that of the solution state. It was predicated that the competition between the self-assembly of TS molecules and the host–guest interaction of TS with Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) was responsible for the sensing properties. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example that organogels could selectively sense Ca2+ ions.

Tunable and Switchable Control of Luminescence through Multiple Physical Stimulations in Aggregation-Based Monocomponent Systems

This report describes how the luminescence of naphthalimide could be tuned by various physical stimuli, including heat, sonication, and grinding. Herein, instant and switchable control of color and fluorescent emissions has been achieved by the sonication-triggered gelation of an organic liquid with naphthalimide-based organogelators (N3-N7). Green emissive suspensions of the gelators in organic liquids are transformed into orange emissive gels upon brief irradiation with ultrasound with an emission wavelength red-shift of approximately 60 nm and fluorescence intensity quenching by a factor of 20, which can subsequently be reversed by heating. When sonication-triggered S-gels are evaporated to S-xerogels, the solid state xerogels (N3, N4, N6, N7) exhibit mechanochromism, the color of which changes from red to yellow and the emission color of which changes from orange to green with enhanced intensity by grinding. This mechanochromic property can be reversed through a regelation process. The mechanochromic character of the S-xerogel of N3 is thus applied to quantitatively sense the mechanical pressure range from 2 to 40 MPa through fluorescence changes, reflecting a new type of application for gelation assembly. The physical stimuli triggered fluorescence changes of these compounds strongly depend on the molecular structure and solvent. The results demonstrate that the different aggregation modes and long-range order arrangement of the molecules regulated by the stimulus may affect the internal charge transfer (ICT) process of the naphthalimide groups, resulting in the tunability of the photophysical properties of the gelators. This report provides a new strategy for tunable and switchable control of luminescence through nonchemical stimuli in aggregation-based monocomponent systems.

Ultrasound-Induced Gelation of Organic Liquids by L-Cysteine-Derived Amphiphile Containing Poly(ethylene glycol) Tail

Amphiphile containing l-cysteine covalently linked with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain (PEG360-Cys) was observed to produce transparent gel at room temperature in polar aprotic solvents not only by heating-cooling (HC) but also when subjected to ultrasound (US). It was observed that a suspension of PEG360-Cys when treated with US readily formed gel at much lower critical gelation concentration. US irradiation has been established to control the gel properties at the molecular level. The morphological change of the organogels produced by the HC and US methods was confirmed from scanning as well as transmission electron microscopy. The organogels produced by the two external stimuli (HC and US) were characterized in detail by FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheology to shed light on the molecular packing during gelation. It is important to note that the US-induced organogels showed almost 13-fold increase in gel strength compared to the organogels obtained by the HC method. Further, US-induced gels were found to be thermally more stable than the heat-set gels. All these studies clearly demonstrate that hydrogen-bonding interaction is the main driving force for both the gelation processes, but the mode of hydrogen bonding at the molecular level is different.

Ultrasound accelerated sugar based gel for in situ construction of a Eu3+-based metallogel via energy transfer in a supramolecular scaffold

Phase control on the energy transfer process via an “off–on” approach between a 4-amino-naphthalimide derivative and Eu³⁺ ions was achieved in sugar-based organogel tissue.