Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
d
n
1
r
3
n
g
|
5
Chart 8.38
3
.
Figure 8.22
FESEM images of (a) 81, (b) SWNT-COOH, (c) f-SWNT (0.005%
w/v)-81, (d) f-SWNT (0.01% w/v)- 81, (e) f-SWNT (0.005% w/v)- 82,
(f) f-SWNT (0.03% w/v)- 82 hybrids in toluene. [gelator]
ΒΌ
0.3% w/v.
Reproduced with permission from ref. 99, The Royal Society of
Chemistry.
with the backbone of SWNT-COOH. These dipeptide-based amphiphiles
helped in the dispersion of SWNT-COOH and the dispersed nanotubes in re-
turn helped in the formation of the intertwined networks where the solvent gets
arrested and yields a self supporting gel. This result has immense significance in
the fact that an otherwise insoluble carbonaceous nanomaterial can remarkably
impact gelation (an order of magnitude improvement) when present in such
miniscule amounts.
They also reported the development of pristine SWNT-molecular hydrogel
composites by dipeptide carboxylate amphiphiles (83,84 Chart 8.39) having
ecient hydrogelation ability along with SWNT dispersion capability.
100
Importantly, the dispersed SWNTs participated in supramolecular gelation
as a physical crosslinker between SAFIN through complementary hydrophobic
interactions and thus improving the gelation eciency of the resultant
composite by 2-fold (Figures 8.23a-c). The mechanical properties of the
developed soft nanocomposites also showed manifold improvement compared
to the native hydrogels without SWNTs. Importantly, the fitting fusion of
