Chemoresponsive Materials: Smart Materials for Chemical and Biological Stimulation
Chapter 4: Responsive Materials from the Self-assembly of Low Molecular Weight Gelators
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Published:08 Jul 2022
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Special Collection: 2022 ebook collection
L. Thomson and D. J. Adams, in Chemoresponsive Materials: Smart Materials for Chemical and Biological Stimulation, ed. H. Schneider, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2nd edn, 2022, ch. 4, pp. 96-128.
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Gels can be formed from low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). The LMWGs self-assemble into one-dimensional structures that entangle to form a network. Typically, this self-assembly is reversible, meaning that gels formed in this way are typically responsive to environmental stimuli. Such gels can be used in numerous applications including waste management and 3D printing. This chapter covers the self-assembly process and trigger methods capable of initiating this process, LMWG design and some of the potential applications for these versatile systems.