Self‐Assembled Gels Formed in Deep Eutectic Solvents: Supramolecular Eutectogels with High Ionic Conductivity

Abstract

1,3:2,4‐Dibenzylidene‐d‐sorbitol (DBS), a simple, commercially relevant compound, was found to self‐assemble as a result of intermolecular noncovalent interactions into supramolecular gels in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on choline chloride combined with alcohols/ureas. DBS formed gels at a loading of 5 % w/v. Rheology confirmed the gel‐like nature of the materials, electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction indicated underpinning nanofibrillar DBS networks, and differential scanning calorimetry showed the DES nature of the liquid‐like phase was retained. The ionic conductivities of the gels were similar to those of the unmodified DESs, thus proving the deep eutectic nature of the ionic liquid‐like phase. Gelation was tolerant of ionic additives Li+, Mg2+, and Ca2+; the resulting gels had similar conductivities to electrolyte dissolved in the native DES. The low‐molecular‐weight gelator DBS is thus a low‐cost additive that forms gels in DESs from readily available constituents, with conductivity levels suitable for practical applications.

Highly biodegradable, thermostable eutectogels prepared by gelation of natural deep eutectic solvents using xanthan gum: preparation and characterization

“…23 Especially, xanthan gum has recently attracted great attention as a biomaterial for the preparation of tissue scaffolds (extracellular matrix) for tissue engineering applications. Although there is already a concept of "eutectogel" based on DES and gels formed by chemically synthesized gelators, [24][25][26][27] to the best of our knowledge, there are still only few reports on the formation of polysaccharide-based eutectogels based on NADESs. In particular, the formation mechanism of polysaccharide-based eutectogels remains to be studied.…”

Supramolecular G4 Eutectogels of Guanosine with Solvent‐Induced Chiral Inversion and Excellent Electrochromic Activity

“…Supramolecular eutectogels,aclass of materials which have been developed very recently,a re formed by selfassembly of low molecular weight gelators via solely reversible noncovalent interactions in deep eutectic solvents (DESs). [1] These materials offer new opportunities for generating functional supramolecular gels in anhydrous or lowwater media. DESs,a ne merging class of green sustainable solvents shares most of the remarkable properties of conventional ionic liquids,s uch as negligible vapor pressure,h igh thermostability,f avorable ionic conductivity,a nd wide electrochemical windows.…”

“…Ther elatively few reports on this topic have used natural amino acids, d-sorbitol derivatives,o rh exadecyl-containing organic salts to immobilize DESs. [1,5] Thedevelopment of new low molecular weight gelators with diverse structures to enable versatile supramolecular eutectogels,a nd further exploring the potential applications of these materials,a re significant in terms of advancing this emerging field.…”

Bispicolyamine-Based Supramolecular Polymeric Gels Induced by Distinct Different Driving Forces with and Without Zn2+

“…Gelating compounds are often used to aid the self-assemblage of nanostructures with predetermined physical properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. To achieve that function, the required driving forces are weak, non-covalent interactions (such as intermolecular hydrogen-bonding, π–π stacking, electrostatic interaction, charge-transfer, metal–ligand coordination, etc.)…”