Molecular engineering of supramolecular polymer adhesive with confined water and a single crown ether
Xu Q. Szymoniak P. Kolmangadi M.A. Yang Z. Wang S. Gao Y. Shang J. Hunger J. Kaisha A. Aldiyarov A. Schönhals A. Ge Y. Qi Z.
23 December 2024Royal Society of Chemistry
Chemical Science
2024#16Issue 41995 - 2003 pp.
Here, we report a water-induced supramolecular polymer adhesive formed from confined water and an intrinsically amphiphilic macrocyclic self-assembly in a nanophase-separated structure. The selenium-containing crown ether macrocycle, featuring a strong hydrophilic hydrogen-bond receptor (selenoxide) and a synergistic hydrophobic selenium-substituted crown core, confines water within a segregated, interdigitated architecture. While water molecules typically freeze around 0 °C, the confined water in this supramolecular polymer remains in a liquid-like state down to −80 °C. Previous studies suggested that multiple crown ether units are required to generate confined water; however, in this case, a single unit is sufficient to control the formation and disappearance of confined water, driving supramolecular polymerization. Typically, the DC conductivity of water follows an Arrhenius temperature dependency (ln σDC f 1/T). In contrast, this new crown ether unit maintains water in confined states, exhibiting Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann behavior (ln σDC f 1/(T − T0)) at temperatures above the glass transition. Moreover, this water-induced supramolecular polymer demonstrates remarkable adhesion to hydrophilic surfaces, maintaining strong adhesion even at low temperatures. These findings illustrate how a single small macrocycle can control the complex structure and functionality of water in supramolecular systems.
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Sino-German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational Technology, Synergetic Innovation Centre of Biological Optoelectronics and Healthcare Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi, Xian, 710072, China
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin, 12205, Germany
Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz, 55128, Germany
Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Av., 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin, 10623, Germany
Sino-German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational Technology
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
Renewable Energy Laboratory
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Institut für Chemie
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