Soft-Nanocomposites of Nanoparticles and Nanocarbons with Supramolecular and Polymer Gels and Their Applications

Abstract

Gel-nanocomposites are rapidly emerging functional advanced materials having widespread applications in materials and biological sciences. Herein, we review syntheses, properties, and applications of various gel-nanocomposites assembled from different metal-based nanoparticles or nanocarbons [fullerene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphenes] with tailor-made supramolecular (small molecular) or polymeric physical organogels and hydrogels. Dynamic supramolecular self-assembly of gelators prove to be excellent hosts for the incorporation of these dimensionally different nanomaterials. Thus, gel-nanocomposites doped with preformed/in situ synthesized nanoparticles show magnetic or near-infrared-responsive, catalytic or antibacterial properties. Fullerene-based gel-nanocomposites show applications in organic solar cells. Gel-nanocomposites based on CNTs and graphenes and their functionalized (covalent/noncovalent) analogues find interesting properties including electrical conductivity, viscoelasticity, thermal robustness, magnetic, phase-selective, redox and near-infrared radiation sensitive properties. We present appropriate rationale to explain most of these phenomena at the molecular level, which provide useful perspectives for future designs and new spin-offs. Finally, a possible outlook is projected for the design and syntheses of next generation multifunctional gel-nanocomposites, which could be achieved by increasing the complexity of the system upon adding selective nanomaterials with desired properties in a multicomponent mixture following a de novo design in order to take advantage of their individual properties.

Hybrid materials of 1D and 2D carbon allotropes and synthetic π-systems

“…Graphene and its derivatives along with self-assembled organic molecules are applied to the formation of hybrid materials with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. Both GO and RGO have been successfully incorporated into a variety of supramolecular materials such as gels and assemblies of π-conjugated molecules and polymers 12,14,[24][25][26] .…”

“…CNTs have excellent chemical, mechanical, and electronic properties that make them promising for various applications. The noncovalent functionalization of CNTs with aromatic molecules and π-conjugated polymers has been extensively investigated [11][12][13][14][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62] . The surface modification of CNTs through noncovalent interactions improves their dispersion and solution processability, rendering them suitable for device applications.…”

“…Due to their extended π-surfaces, polyaromatic molecules such as naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, and perylene have been used extensively to prepare hybrid materials with CNTs [11][12][13][14][68][69][70][71] . Supramolecular systems of these molecules have been exploited in the preparation of hybrid materials with CNTs.…”

“…While there are several strategies for preparing hybrid materials, molecular self-assembly using noncovalent interactions [5][6][7][8][9][10] is considered a simple and efficient approach to the preparation of hybrid materials [11][12][13][14][15][16] . The nanoscale and mesoscale ordering of the building blocks in these hybrid materials and the resultant morphological features determine their functional properties, which can be modified by exploiting the reversible and adaptive nature of noncovalent interactions 17,18 .…”

Сrown- and Sulfophthalocyanines in Low-Molecular-Weight Hydrogels: Properties, Molecular State, and Release

“…As is known, labile supramolecular ensembles of low-and high-molecular-weight gelators can act as excellent hosts for incorporating various guests, including nanomaterials. [1][2][3] Supramolecular gels based on small molecules look advantageous for the following reasons. Apart from their amphiphilicity of molecules and participation of non-covalent interactions in the process of gelation (as in biological structures), they are characterized by accessibility, high purity, known chemical structure, biocompatibility of the initial components, and the process of their gelation is rather simple.…”