Investigation of Orderly Nanostructures and Assembly Modes of Binary Organogels via Glutamic Acid Amino Derivative and Different Fatty Acids

Abstract

In this paper the gelation behaviors of binary fatty acids with different length of alkyl chains and glutamic acid amino derivative in various organic solvents were designed and investigated. Their gelation behaviors in 20 solvents were tested as new binary organic gelators. The results showed that the length of alkyl chains has played a crucial role in the gelation behavior of all gelator mixtures in various organic solvents. Longer alkyl chains in molecular skeletons in present gelators are favorable for the gelation of organic solvents. Morphological studies revealed that the gelator molecules self-assemble into different aggregates, such as lamella, rod, belt, and fiber with change of solvents. Spectral studies indicated that there existed different H-bond formation and hydrophobic force, depending on imide segment and alkyl substituent chains in molecular skeletons. In addition, the used solvents had great effect on the assembly modes and stacking units of these binary gelators. The present work may also give new clues for designing new binary organogelators and soft materials.

Keywords:

• Binary organogel
• supramolecular assembly
• nanostructure
• glutamic acid derivative
• fatty acid