Simple design but marvelous performances: molecular gels of superior strength and self-healing properties

Abstract

Four nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)-containing cholesteryl (Chol) derivatives were prepared, and their gelation behaviors were tested. It was demonstrated that the compounds show a remarkable gelling ability. In particular, a subtle change in the length of the spacers connecting the two structural units of the compounds, which are NBD and Chol, respectively, produced a dramatic change in the gelation ability and the gel properties of the compounds. As for gelation, compound 1 is much more powerful than others, especially in the gelation of methanol-containing organic mixtures. It is to be noted that the gel of 1/pyridine–methanol exhibits superior mechanical strength with a yield stress higher than 6300 Pa at a gelator concentration of 2.5% (w/v), and the value exceeds 23 000 Pa when the gelator concentration reaches 5.0% (w/v), a result never reported before in the field of molecular gels based on low-molecular mass gelators (LMMGs). More importantly, the gel shows a rapid self-healing property as evidenced by the fact that the gel heals up immediately upon cutting, provided the segments from the cutting are squeezed together. No doubt, our findings establish a benchmark for LMMG-based molecular gels in their rheological performances. FTIR, ¹H NMR and XRD studies revealed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking are two of the main driving forces to promote the gelation of the system and the self-assembling of the molecules of the gelator.