Nanofibrillar Stimulus‐Responsive Cholesteric Microgels with Catalytic Properties. (13th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cho, Sangho; Li, Yunfeng; Seo, Minseok; Kumacheva, Eugenia
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 128:Number 45(2016)
• Page Start: 14220
• Page End: 14224
• Publication Date: 2016-10-13
• Subjects: Cellulose-Nanokristalle -- Cholesterische Mikrogele -- Mikroreaktoren -- Nanopartikel -- Responsive Materialien; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201607406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: We report composite stimulus‐responsive cholesteric catalytically active microgels derived from filamentous supramolecular building blocks: cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The variation in the microgel dimensions and pitch in response to the change in ambient conditions was governed by the polymer component. The cholesteric morphology of the microgels resulted from the self‐organization of CNCs in spherical confinement. The microgels exhibited excellent structural integrity and functioned as microreactors in catalytic hydrolysis reactions and in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Because of these collective properties, the reported microgels show much promise for application in the design of functional responsive materials.