Issue 42, 2020

A supramolecular photonic crystal hydrogel based on host–guest interactions for organic molecule recognition

Abstract

The host component β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and the guest component tertiary-butyl (t-Bu) were introduced into the polymeric backbone material of an inverse opal hydrogel. The association between β-CD and t-Bu functions as an openable cross-linker (“lock”) in the hydrogel. Meeting a competitive guest as the target molecule, 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid sodium (AdCANa) salt acts as a “key” to dissociate the pair of β-CD and t-Bu due to its stronger combination capacity with β-CD than t-Bu. At the same time, another cross-linker, N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm), provides covalent bonds to the backbone material, ensuring that the subsequent association/dissociation of the host–guest pair only results in an expansion–contraction in volume, rather than a sol–gel phase transition. In this way, the target molecule acting as a competitive guest can cause an expansion-induced structural color change of the inverse opal hydrogel. Following the same strategy, the L- and D-enantiomers of tryptophan (Try) can also be recognized. The combination between the supramolecular host–guest pair and photonic crystals promises applicability in molecular recognition and other interesting optical devices.

Graphical abstract: A supramolecular photonic crystal hydrogel based on host–guest interactions for organic molecule recognition

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
22 Sep 2020
Accepted
11 Oct 2020
First published
13 Oct 2020

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020,8, 14718-14722

A supramolecular photonic crystal hydrogel based on host–guest interactions for organic molecule recognition

Y. Sun, D. Wang, Y. Long, L. Li, K. Du, K. Hou, J. Ji, C. Yang, K. Zhong, H. Cai, J. Li and K. Song, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8, 14718 DOI: 10.1039/D0TC04517A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements