Pillar[5]arene-based multifunctional supramolecular hydrogel: multistimuli responsiveness, self-healing, fluorescence sensing, and conductivity

Abstract

A novel pillar[5]arene-based multifunctional supramolecular hydrogel (HG) has been successfully constructed. The obtained supramolecular hydrogel shows excellent self-healing capacity. Meanwhile, this supramolecular hydrogel exhibited good multi-stimuli responsive behavior including thermal-responsiveness, pH-responsiveness, anion-responsiveness, and competitive agent-responsiveness. In addition, this hydrogel could effectively detect iron ions (Fe³⁺) by fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra detection limit was 7.86 × 10⁻¹⁰ M, indicating the ultra-sensitivity of the hydrogel to Fe³⁺. The thin film based on this hydrogel was also prepared, which was confirmed to be a convenient test kit for detecting Fe³⁺. Furthermore, this supramolecular hydrogel (HG) is also an excellent conductive material.