The process of assembling astutely designed, well-defined metal-organic cube (MOC) into hydrogel by using a suitable molecular binder is a promising method for preparing processable functional soft materials. Here, we demonstrate charge-assisted H-bonding driven hydrogel formation from Ga3+-based anionic MOC ((Ga8(ImDC)12)12−) and molecular binders, like, ammonium ion (NH4+), N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, guanidine hydrochloride and β-alanine. The morphology of the resulting hydrogel depends upon the size, shape and geometry of the molecular binder. Hydrogel with NH4+ shows nanotubular morphology with negative surface charge and is used for gel-chromatographic separation of cationic species from anionic counterparts. Furthermore, a photo-responsive luminescent hydrogel is prepared using a cationic tetraphenylethene-based molecular binder (DATPE), which is employed as a light harvesting antenna for tuning emission colour including pure white light. This photo-responsive hydrogel is utilized for writing and preparing flexible light-emitting display.
CITATION STYLE
Sutar, P., Suresh, V. M., Jayaramulu, K., Hazra, A., & Maji, T. K. (2018). Binder driven self-assembly of metal-organic cubes towards functional hydrogels. Nature Communications, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05818-w
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