Mesostructured Hybrids Containing Potential Donors and Acceptors with Molecular-Scale and Meso-Scale Segregation and Ordering: Toward the Development of Smart Materials through Hierarchical Self-Assembly

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 4589-4597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le-Le Li ◽  
Hao Sun ◽  
Chen-Jie Fang ◽  
Quan Yuan ◽  
Ling-Dong Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Molecular Scale ◽  
Meso Scale

scholarly journals Luminescent Supramolecular Nano- or Microstructures Formed in Aqueous Media by Amphiphile-Noble Metal Complexes

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Cretu ◽  
Loredana Maiuolo ◽  
Domenico Lombardo ◽  
Elisabeta I. Szerb ◽  
Pietro Calandra
Keyword(s):  
Noble Metal ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Noble Metals ◽  
Photophysical Properties ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Panoramic View ◽  
Amphiphilic Molecules

The involvement of metal ions within the self-assembly spontaneously occurring in surfactant-based systems gives additional and interesting features. The electronic states of the metal, together with the bonds that can be established with the organic amphiphilic counterpart, are the factors triggering new photophysical properties. Moreover, the availability of stimuli-responsive supramolecular amphiphile assemblies, able to disassemble in a back-process, provides reversible switching particularly useful in novel approaches and applications giving rise to truly smart materials. In particular, small amphiphiles with an inner distribution, within their molecular architecture, of various polar and apolar functional groups, can give a wide variety of interactions and therefore enriched self-assemblies. If it is joined with the opportune presence and localization of noble metals, whose chemical and photophysical properties are undiscussed, then very interesting materials can be obtained. In this minireview, the basic concepts on self-assembly of small amphiphilic molecules with noble metals are shown with particular reference to the photophysical properties aiming at furnishing to the reader a panoramic view of these exciting problematics. In this respect, the following will be shown: (i) the principles of self-assembly of amphiphiles that involve noble metals, (ii) examples of amphiphiles and amphiphile-noble metal systems as representatives of systems with enhanced photophysical properties, and (iii) final comments and perspectives with some examples of modern applications.

scholarly journals Structure–function relationships of the plant cuticle and cuticular waxes — a smart material?

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Bargel ◽  
Kerstin Koch ◽  
Zdenek Cerman ◽  
Christoph Neinhuis
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Symmetry Classes ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Surface Waxes

The cuticle is the main interface between plants and their environment. It covers the epidermis of all aerial primary parts of plant organs as a continuous extracellular matrix. This hydrophobic natural composite consists mainly of the biopolymer, cutin, and cuticular lipids collectively called waxes, with a high degree of variability in composition and structure. The cuticle and cuticular waxes exhibit a multitude of functions that enable plant life in many different terrestrial habitats and play important roles in interfacial interactions. This review highlights structure–function relationships that are the subjects of current research activities. The surface waxes often form complex crystalline microstructures that originate from self-assembly processes. The concepts and results of the analysis of model structures and the influence of template effects are critically discussed. Recent investigations of surface waxes by electron and X-ray diffraction revealed that these could be assigned to three crystal symmetry classes, while the background layer is not amorphous, but has an orthorhombic order. In addition, advantages of the characterisation of formation of model wax types on a molecular scale are presented. Epicuticular wax crystals may cause extreme water repellency and, in addition, a striking self-cleaning property. The principles of wetting and up-to-date concepts of the transfer of plant surface properties to biomimetic technical applications are reviewed. Finally, biomechanical studies have demonstrated that the cuticle is a mechanically important structure, whose properties are dynamically modified by the plant in response to internal and external stimuli. Thus, the cuticle combines many aspects attributed to smart materials.

scholarly journals The macroscopic shape of assemblies formed from microparticles based on host–guest interaction dependent on the guest content

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Itami ◽  
Akihito Hashidzume ◽  
Yuri Kamon ◽  
Hiroyasu Yamaguchi ◽  
Akira Harada
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Recognition ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Contact Point ◽  
Sodium Acrylate ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Assembly Behavior ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Macroscopic Shape

AbstractBiological macroscopic assemblies have inspired researchers to utilize molecular recognition to develop smart materials in these decades. Recently, macroscopic self-assemblies based on molecular recognition have been realized using millimeter-scale hydrogel pieces possessing molecular recognition moieties. During the study on macroscopic self-assembly based on molecular recognition, we noticed that the shape of assemblies might be dependent on the host–guest pair. In this study, we were thus motivated to study the macroscopic shape of assemblies formed through host–guest interaction. We modified crosslinked poly(sodium acrylate) microparticles, i.e., superabsorbent polymer (SAP) microparticles, with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and adamantyl (Ad) residues (βCD(x)-SAP and Ad(y)-SAP microparticles, respectively, where x and y denote the mol% contents of βCD and Ad residues). Then, we studied the self-assembly behavior of βCD(x)-SAP and Ad(y)-SAP microparticles through the complexation of βCD with Ad residues. There was a threshold of the βCD content in βCD(x)-SAP microparticles for assembly formation between x = 22.3 and 26.7. On the other hand, the shape of assemblies was dependent on the Ad content, y; More elongated assemblies were formed at a higher y. This may be because, at a higher y, small clusters formed in an early stage can stick together even upon collisions at a single contact point to form elongated aggregates, whereas, at a smaller y, small clusters stick together only upon collisions at multiple contact points to give rather circular assemblies. On the basis of these observations, the shape of assembly formed from microparticles can be controlled by varying y.

Self-assembly of dual-responsive amphiphilic POEGMA-b-P4VP-b-POEGMA triblock copolymers: Effect of temperature, pH, and complexation with Cu2+

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela M. Zanata ◽  
Maria Isabel Felisberti
Keyword(s):  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Triblock Copolymers ◽  
Critical Micellar Concentration ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Important Class ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Dual Responsive

Amphiphilic and stimuli-responsive triblock copolymers are an important class of smart materials due to their low critical micellar concentration in solution and capacity of self-assembly into different structures depending on...

scholarly journals Low-Temperature Meltable Elastomers Based on Linear Polydimethylsiloxane Chains Alpha, Omega-Terminated with Mesogenic Groups as Physical Crosslinkers: A Passive Smart Material with Potential as Viscoelastic Coupling. Part I: Synthesis and Phase Behavior

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Horodecka ◽  
Adam Strachota ◽  
Beata Mossety-Leszczak ◽  
Beata Strachota ◽  
Miroslav Šlouf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Lamellar Structure ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Polymer Networks ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Structure Property ◽  
Mechanical Coupling

Physically crosslinked low-temperature elastomers were prepared based on linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastic chains terminated on both ends with mesogenic building blocks (LC) of azobenzene type. They are generally (and also structurally) highly different from the well-studied LC polymer networks (light-sensitive actuators). The LC units also make up only a small volume fraction in our materials and they do not generate elastic energy upon irradiation, but they act as physical crosslinkers with thermotropic properties. Our elastomers lack permanent chemical crosslinks—their structure is fully linear. The aggregation of the relatively rare, small, and spatially separated terminal LC units nevertheless proved to be a considerably strong crosslinking mechanism. The most attractive product displays a rubber plateau extending over 100 °C, melts near 8 °C, and is soluble in organic solvents. The self-assembly (via LC aggregation) of the copolymer molecules leads to a distinctly lamellar structure indicated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). This structure persists also in melt (polarized light microscopy, XRD), where 1–2 thermotropic transitions occur. The interesting effects of the properties of this lamellar structure on viscoelastic and rheological properties in the rubbery and in the melt state are discussed in a follow-up paper (“Part II”). The copolymers might be of interest as passive smart materials, especially as temperature-controlled elastic/viscoelastic mechanical coupling. Our study focuses on the comparison of physical properties and structure–property relationships in three systems with elastic PDMS segments of different length (8.6, 16.3, and 64.4 repeat units).

Fabrication of pH- and temperature-directed supramolecular materials from 1D fibers to exclusively 2D planar structures using an ionic self-assembly approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (14) ◽  
pp. 3273-3279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Gong ◽  
Qiongzheng Hu ◽  
Ni Cheng ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Wenwen Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Multiple Response ◽  
Supramolecular Materials ◽  
Planar Structures

Constructing multiple-response smart materials is a very interesting and challenging task in materials science.

Functional applications of 4D printing: A review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubham Shankar Mohol ◽  
Varun Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Smart Materials ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
4D Printing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Applications ◽  
Significant Research ◽  
3D Printed

Purpose Additive manufacturing has rapidly developed in terms of technology and its application in various types of industries. With this rapid development, there has been significant research in the area of materials. This has led to the invention of Smart Materials (SMs). The 4D printing is basically 3D printing of these SMs. This paper aims to focus on novel materials and their useful application in various industries using the technology of 4D printing. Design/methodology/approach Research studies in 4D printing have increased since the time when this idea was first introduced in the year 2013. The present research study will deeply focus on the introduction to 4D printing, types of SMs and its application based on the various types of stimulus. The application of each type of SM has been explained along with its functioning with respect to the stimulus. Findings SMs have multiple functional applications pertaining to appropriate industries. The 4D printed parts have a distinctive capability to change its shape and self-assembly to carry out a specific function according to the requirement. Afterward, the fabricated part can recover to its 3D printed “memorized” shape once it is triggered by the stimulus. Originality/value The present study highlights the various capabilities of SMs, which is used as a raw material in 4D printing. Graphical abstract

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document