Hybrid organic–inorganic supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with CePO4 nanowires. Issue 42 (7th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chenyan; Xiang, Guolei; Wu, Yuchao; Barrow, Steven J.; Rowland, Matthew J.; Clarke, David E.; Wu, Guanglu; Scherman, Oren A.
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 42(2016)
• Page Start: 6485
• Page End: 6489
• Publication Date: 2016-10-07
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c6py01127f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : Supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with inorganic CePO4 nanowires. Abstract : We report a method to enhance the stiffness in the rheological yield strain of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-based hydrogels by introducing inorganic nanowires (NWs) into the supramolecular networks. The supramolecular hydrogel is comprised of methylviologen-functionalised poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-MV), hydroxyethyl cellulose with naphthyl moieties (HEC-Np) and CB[8] macrocyclic hosts. The gel structure can be effectively enhanced by the framework supporting effects of cerous phosphate NWs and additional hydrogen bonding interactions between the NWs and the PVA-MV/HEC-Np polymers. The high aspect ratio NWs serve as a "skeleton" for the network providing extra physical crosslinks, resulting in a single continuous phase hybrid supramolecular network with improved strength, presenting a general approach to reinforce soft materials.