Multi-component low molecular weight gelators can be used to prepare gels with a higher degree of complexity and information content than single component systems. However, controlling how the different components behave in the presence of one another is difficult. For example, if one component gels first, it is unclear how, if at all, the second component modifies the network that is growing. Once the first network has formed, the second network must grow in the presence of the first; again, it is not clear if this has any effect. Here, we will discuss our work on two component systems and show examples of self-sorting, as well as co-assembly. We focus on controlling this assembly, and the effect of the different possibilities on the final properties of the gels.

Controlling the assembly of multicomponent supramolecular gelator systems

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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