Polyoxometalate-based supramolecular hydrogels constructed through host–guest interactions

Abstract

Supramolecular hydrogels based on host–guest interactions constitute a class of intriguing soft matter and have attracted great attention due to their unique properties, etc. In this paper, a new organic–inorganic hybrid based on covalently tethered adamantane onto an Anderson cluster was prepared and characterized by various techniques including single-crystal XRD and ESI-MS. Its inclusion complex with β-CD was systematically investigated by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS. Radical copolymerization of the complex of Anderson–adamantane and 6-acrylamido-β-CD, and an acrylamide monomer led to the formation of supramolecular hydrogels, which were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and rheological measurements. This work presents the successful fabrication of polyoxometalate (POM)-based hydrogels through host–guest interactions, which provides a new pathway for the development of POM-containing advanced functional soft materials.