Design and properties of supramolecular polymer gels

Abstract

Supramolecular polymer gels are precisely designed physical gels brought together by reversible secondary interactions to form three dimensional networks of melt macromolecules. Generally, they differ from supramolecular gels because they are comprised of polymers instead of low molecular weight compounds. Recently, much effort has focused on designing supramolecular polymer gels and related materials with excellent properties; indeed, improvements have been made in their supramolecular interactions, complementarity in the non-covalent bonding units, the nature of the macromolecular building blocks, and strand elasticity of supramolecular polymer networks. Owing to the precise molecular design, they represent nanophase separation and characteristic viscoelasticity. Here, we review supramolecular polymer gels in terms of molecular design, morphology, and rheology. We also discuss future directions in practical application of supramolecular polymer gels.