0000000000298175
AUTHOR
Georges J. M. Formon
Magnetic Control over the Fractal Dimension of Supramolecular Rod Networks
<p>Controlling supramolecular polymerization is of fundamental importance to create advanced materials and devices. Here we show that the thermodynamic equilibrium of Gd<sup>3+</sup>-bearing supramolecular rod networks is shifted reversibly at room temperature in a static magnetic field of up to 2 T. Our approach opens opportunities to control the structure formation of other supramolecular or coordination polymers that contain paramagnetic ions.</p>
Surface-Assisted Self-Assembly of a Hydrogel by Proton Diffusion
International audience; Controlling supramolecular growth at solid surfaces is of great importance to expand the scope of supramolecular materials. Here we describe a dendritic benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide peptide conjugate whose assembly can be triggered by a pH jump. Stopped flow kinetics and mathematical modeling provide a quantitative understanding of the nucleation, elongation, and fragmentation behavior in solution. To assemble the molecule at a solid-liquid interface, we use proton diffusion from the bulk. The latter needs to be slower than the lag phase of nucleation in order to progressively grow a hydrogel outwards from the surface. Our method of surface-assisted self-assembly is …