Formation of a sheet-like hydrogel from vesicles via precipitates based on an ionic liquid-based surfactant and β-cyclodextrin

Abstract Alkyl triphenylphosphonium bromide (C 16 TPB), an ionic liquid-based surfactant, and β-cyclodextrin were found to be able to form into a supramolecular complex, which could further aggregate into vesicles in an aqueous solution. The vesicles transformed into precipitates as the concentration of both β-CD and the surfactant increased. Interestingly, a sheet-like hydrogel with multiple responsive properties formed upon the addition of inorganic salts. The morphology and size distribution of the supramolecular aggregates were characterized in detail by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). A possible transformation mechanism was suggested based on the results of 1 H NMR, FT-IR and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The research might be of value in applications of biochemistry and design of smart materials.