There is much recent interest in the field of molecular gels because of their potential use in many different applications, including biomedicine and electronic materials. Functional Molecular Gels details the latest research on molecular gels from the fundamentals of molecular gel formation to their uses in a variety of fields. This book introduces the key concepts of designing molecular gels and their characterisation techniques, followed by chapters discussing different stimuli-responsive systems. Specific chapters are then dedicated to their diverse range of applications, including catalysis, tissue engineering, photonic materials and as templates for nanostructured materials. Written by active researchers in the area, this book gives a taste of the possibilities that molecular gels offer for those both new to and already working in the area.

"Molecular Gels: Materials with Self-Assembled Fibrillar Networks" is a comprehensive treatise on gelators, especially low molecular-mass gelators and the properties of their gels. The structures and modes of formation of the self-assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs) that immobilize the liquid components of the gels are discussed experimentally and theoretically. The spectroscopic, rheological, and structural features of the different classes of low molecular-mass gelators are also presented. Many examples of the application of the principal analytical techniques for investigation of molecular gels (including SANS, SAXS, WAXS, UV-vis absorption, fluorescence and CD spectroscopies, scanning electron, transmission electron and optical microscopies, and molecular modeling) are presented didactically and in-depth, as are several of the theories of the stages of aggregation of individual low molecular-mass gelator molecules leading to SAFINs. Several actual and potential applications of molecular gels in disparate fields (from silicate replication of nanostructures to art conservation) are described. Special emphasis is placed on perspectives for future developments. This book is an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners either already researching self-assembly and soft matter or new to the area. Those who will find the book useful include chemists, engineers, spectroscopists, physicists, biologists, theoreticians, and materials scientists.

Molecular gels and fibrillar networks – a comprehensive guide to experiment and theory Molecular Gels: Materials with Self-Assembled Fibrillar Networks provides a comprehensive treatise on gelators, especially low molecular-mass gelators (LMOGs), and the properties of their gels. The structures and modes of formation of the self-assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs) that immobilize the liquid components of the gels are discussed experimentally and theoretically. The spectroscopic, rheological, and structural features of the different classes of LMOGs are also presented. Many examples of the application of the principal analytical techniques for investigation of molecular gels (including SANS, SAXS, WAXS, UV-vis absorption, fluorescence and CD spectroscopies, scanning electron, transmission electron and optical microscopies, and molecular modeling) are presented didactically and in-depth, as are several of the theories of the stages of aggregation of individual LMOG molecules leading to SAFINs. Several actual and potential applications of molecular gels in disparate fields (from silicate replication of nanostructures to art conservation) are described. Special emphasis is placed on perspectives for future developments. This book is an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners either already researching self-assembly and soft matter or new to the area. Those who will find the book useful include chemists, engineers, spectroscopists, physicists, biologists, theoreticians, and materials scientists. Richard G. Weiss is Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. Pierre Terech is Research Director, CNRS – Atomic Energy Center – Grenoble University, Grenoble, France.

An authoritative resource covering the latest developments in different types of gels.

Supramolecular Gels Discover a current and authoritative overview of the cutting-edge in supramolecular gels from a leading voice in the field A promising new class of materials shows potential and is receiving increasing attention as an intelligent material for multifunctional systems. In a work that is sure to be of great interest to a wide variety of researchers, chemists, and engineers, Supramolecular Gels: Materials and Emerging Applications delivers an application-oriented and focused book exploring the most recent applications of supramolecular gels. This interdisciplinary book presents the underlying fundamentals of supramolecular gels before discussing their assembly mechanisms and structures. It also introduces different material systems, including composite supramolecular gels, organogels, hydrogels, self-healing, and graphene-based supramolecular gels. The book discusses current and emerging applications of these materials in devices like sensors and actuators, biomedical tools, and environmental applications. The distinguished author also offers valuable insights with respect to the design and character of brand-new versatile soft materials. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the fundamentals of supramolecular gels, including their formation, classification, self-assembly, and mechanisms An exploration of supramolecular chirality and regulation in gel structures, as well as self-assembly and environmental applications of composite supramolecular gels Practical discussions of fluorescent organogels and hydrogels and their applications in analyte sensing An examination of self-healing and graphene-based supramolecular gels, and supramolecular gels for sensors and actuators Perfect for materials scientists, organic chemists, biochemists, catalytic chemists, and environmental chemists, Supramolecular Gels: Materials and Emerging Applications will also earn a place in the libraries of sensor developers and other professionals seeking a one-stop reference for this rapidly developing category of intelligent materials.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Stimuli-Responsive Gels" that was published in Gels

This book covers various molecular, metal-organic, dynamic covalent, polymer and other gels, focusing on their driving interactions, structures and properties. It consists of six chapters demonstrating interesting examples of these gels, classified by the type of driving interaction, and also discusses the effect of these interactions on the gels’ structures and properties. The book offers an interesting and useful guide for a broad readership in various fields of chemical and materials science.

Molecular systems are assemblies of molecules designed to possess special qualities and desired functionality. Such systems are important because they provide materials with novel properties, and they will be particularly useful for minimizing electronic devices. In this two volume work, the first volume, subtitled 'From Molecules to Molecular Systems', covered the fundamentals of molecular design, while volume 2 deals with the potential applications of molecular systems. Information transduction and energy conversion are the basis of any practical device, and these considerations, along with the required interconnections and interfaces, are analyzed to produce the architectural design for a molecular system. The preparation of molecular systems is also considered, including that of self-organizing molecular assemblies, ultrathin films, and ultrafine particles.

Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing presents the physical and chemical principles of the sol-gel process. The book emphasizes the science behind sol-gel processing with a chapter devoted to applications. The first chapter introduces basic terminology, provides a brief historical sketch, and identifies some excellent texts for background reading. Chapters 2 and 3 discuss the mechanisms of hydrolysis and condensation for nonsilicate and silicate systems. Chapter 4 deals with stabilization and gelation of sols. Chapter 5 reviews theories of gelation and examines the predicted and observed changes in the properties of a sol in the vicinity of the gel point. Chapter 6 describes the changes in structure and properties that occur during aging of a gel in its pore liquor (or some other liquid). The discussion of drying is divided into two parts, with the theory concentrated in Chapter 7 and the phenomenology in Chapter 8. The structure of dried gels is explored in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 shows the possibility of using the gel as a substrate for chemical reactions or of modifying the bulk composition of the resulting ceramic by performing a surface reaction (such as nitridation) on the gel. Chapter 11 reviews the theory and practice of sintering, describing the mechanisms that govern densification of amorphous and crystalline materials, and showing the advantages of avoiding crystallization before sintering is complete. The properties of gel-derived and conventional ceramics are discussed in Chapter 12. The preparation of films is such an important aspect of sol-gel technology that the fundamentals of film formation are treated at length in Chapter 13. Films and other applications are briefly reviewed in Chapter 14. Materials scientists and researchers in the field of sol-gel processing will find the book invaluable.