Carbohydrate-BasedSafe Fuel Gel with Significant Self–healing Property

Abstract

We report a multi-functional low molecular weight organogelator (LMOG) derived from mannose with rational protecting group manipulations. The gelator found to give excellent gelation with various organic solvents and oils at very low concentration. The gel showed excellent self-healing property and phase-selectivity in the aqueous-organic interface. The thermo-reversible gel exhibited efficient recharge ability up to four cycles of burning and gelation indicating the potential use as safe fuel. The single crystal X-ray structure of the gelator gave an insight of the supramolecular arrangement that lead to the multifunctional behaviour.