Stabilized nanotube and nanofiber gel materials toward multifunctional adsorption

Abstract Incorporation of multiple functional molecules with unique structures can endow gel materials with outstanding performance in adsorption. Herein, self-assembly of structurally simple trispyridine molecules of 1,3,5-tris(4-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene achieves supramolecular gels with two different nanofiber or nanotube morphologies depending on difference in gelation temperature and cooling rate, and the self-assembled materials have been successfully stabilized though covalent capture to obtain stable nanofiber and nanotube materials with additional pillar[5]arene groups. Owing to the positively charged pyridinium networks, host-guest interaction of pillar[5]arene and different morphologies, the materials show diverse multifunctional adsorption performance, including selective uptake for cationic dye, molecular shape recognition for dinitrobenzene isomers, and remarkable adsorption for iodine capture. The tubular material shows boosted iodine adsorption via synergistic effect, and the capacity for iodine reaches up to 2.29 g g−1 via vapor adsorption and 2.95 g g−1 in solution.