Thermal annealing behaviour and gel to crystal transition of a low molecular weight hydrogelator

Emily C. Barker, Adam D. Martin, Christopher J. Garvey, Ching Yong Goh, Franca Jones, Mauro Mocerino, Brian W. Skelton, Mark I. Ogden, Thomas Becker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1006-1011
Number of pages6
JournalSoft Matter
Volume13
Issue number5
Early online date5 Jan 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Feb 2017

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