The implementation of stimuli-responsive materials with dynamically controllable features has long been an important objective that challenges chemists in the materials science field. We report here the synthesis and characterization of [2]rotaxanes (R1 and R1-b) with a molecular shuttle and photoresponsive properties. Axles T1 and T1-b were found to be highly efficient and versatile organogelators toward various nonpolar organic solvents, especially p-xylene, with critical gelation concentrations as low as 0.67 and 0.38 w/v %, respectively. The two molecular stations of switchable [2]rotaxanes (R1 and R1-b) can be revealed or concealed by t-butylcalix[4]arene macrocycle, thus inhibiting the gelation processes of the respective axles T1 and T1-b through the control of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. The sol–gel transition of axles T1 and T1-b could be achieved by the irradiation of UV–visible light, which interconverted between the extended and contracted forms. Interestingly, the morphologies of organogels in p-xylene, including flakes, nanobelts, fibers, and vesicles depending on the molecular structures of axles T1 and T1-b, were induced by UV–visible light irradiation. Further studies revealed that acid–base-controllable and reversible self-assembled nanostructures of these axle molecules were mainly constructed by the interplay of multi-noncovalent interactions, such as intermolecular π–π stacking, CH−π, and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. Surprisingly, our TPE molecular systems (R1, R1-b, T1, and T1-b) are nonemissive in their aggregated states, suggesting that not only fluorescence resonance energy transfer but also aggregation-caused quenching may have been functioning. Finally, the mechanical strength of these organogels in various solvents was monitored by rheological experiments.
To investigate the supramolecular interactions of the mechanically interlocked rotaxane pendants and conjugated polymer backbones, four analogous polymers were systematically synthesized by copolymerization of a 9-alkylidene-9H-fluorene monomer with various monomers, which contained a diketopyrrolopyrrole unit tethered with a dumbbell unit, a metalated [2]rotaxane, a demetalated orthogonal H-bonded [2]rotaxane, and a simple alkyl chain, to furnish P1, P2, P3, and P4, respectively. Prevailing 1H NMR and UV–vis to NIR titration profiles indicated that the novel polyrotaxane P3 showed a sensitive and reversible acid–base molecular switch capability via supramolecular interactions in contrast to the other polymers (P1, P2, and P4). Compared with the other polymers, P3 possessed a narrower bandgap, which was also confirmed by the computational study. Prominently, the monitoring of a controllable nanoself-assembly process of P3 was obtained by reversible acid–base molecular switch approaches. The orthogonal H-bonded pendant [2]rotaxane unit and the steric demand of P3 judiciously allowed to morph into a hierarchical nanostructure via interconvertible H-bonds, anion−π and π–π stackings, and hydrophobic interactions.
The hydrogenated black Ni–TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit a much greater efficiency in water splitting producing H2 gas over those of non-hydrogenated TiO2 and Ni-doped TiO2.
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