超分子凝胶是指将少量(质量分数为0.1%~10%)的低分子量凝胶因子溶于有机溶剂或水,当体系温度降至凝胶形成温度以下时,整个溶液可以固定不动并支撑自身的重量(将试管倒置,若没有液体沿试管壁流下,则说明凝胶已形成).凝胶因子通过分子间氢键、π-π堆积、疏水相互作用、范德华力和电子转移相互作用等分子间非共价键互相作用,自组装形成线型、纤维状或带状结构,继而形成三维网络结构,阻止了溶剂分子的流动,从而使整个体系凝胶化,在制备外界刺激响应性凝胶、樟板合成纳米材料、倍感器和药物缓释等方而具有重要的作用.
A building unit(defined as SBU) synthesized from 1,2,4,5-benzene tetracarboxylic acid and 4-hydroxy pyridine was used as the gelator with low molecular weight to form supramolecular hydrogels at various concentrations. The dried hydrogels (xerogels) were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the xerogels possess network structures composing of intertwined fibers and the dimension of the fibers can be regulated by the concentration of SBU. Powder X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis indicates that the fibers are connected by SBU building units. The reversible sol-gel transition of the supramolecular system with the change of temperature was also noticed.