Stimuli-responsive supramolecular organogels that exhibit a succession of micro-morphologies

A novel supramolecular organogel consisting of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), 4,4′-isopropylidendiphenol (BPA), LiCl, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol (EtOH) was prepared. The system without EtOH was a clear solution at ambient temperature and turned into an organogel upon the addition of ethanol (EtOH). The micro-morphologies of the organogel were various, such as ellipsoids, spheres, cuboids and cylinders, and they could be obtained in sequence by controlling the stirring time or the dosage of introduced EtOH. The organogel with multi-morphologies was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and rheology measurements. Further, the formation mechanism of the organogel was proposed. This organogel may cast new light on the area of functional material design and fabrication.