Use of fluorescence spectroscopy to study polymeric materials with porous structure based on imprinting by self-assembled fibrillar networks

M. I. Burguete, F. Galindo, R. Gavara, M. A. Izquierdo, J. C. Lima, S. V. Luis, A. J. Parola, F. Pina

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Different polymeric materials have been prepared from the organogels formed by a polymerizable methacrylic mixture (methyl methacrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1:1, w/w) and the macrocyclic pseudopeptide 1. The use of (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)diphenylphosphine oxide as a very efficient radical initiator allows polymeric materials in which the structure of the fibrils formed by self-assembly of the organogelator 1 is truly preserved to be obtained. Removal of the pseudopeptidic molecule provides materials with a porous structure reflecting that of the original self-assembled fibrils. The use of fluorescent probes such as rhodamine B and pyrene greatly facilitate the study of the porous structures formed and, accordingly, that of the morphology of the original fibrils. Those studies reveal the presence of a permanent porosity and the organization of the substructures as a porous network. This confirms the existence of a nucleation and growth mechanism for the generation of the fibrils, giving rise to the formation of spherulitic structures. Those spherulites are additionally linked by connections of variable size. A series of diffusion experiments allowed establishment of a direct dependence of the inner porosity of the materials on the amount of self-organizing template used for their preparation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9795-9803
Number of pages9
JournalLangmuir
Volume24
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Sept 2008

Keywords

  • Gelation
  • Gels
  • Gelator molecules

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