Regulation gel formation, hierarchical structures and surface wettability via isomeride effect in supramolecular organogel system

A new serial of gelators with two cholesteryl groups based on o-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine were synthesized, and their organogelation ability was evaluated. We found that G-o could form gels in DMF, DMSO and ethyl acetate, G-m and G-p could only gel DMF and 1,4-dioxane. The organogels were thoroughly characterized using various microscopic techniques including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectrum, FT-IR spectrum and contact angle. The gelation ability, morphology, self-assembly mode and materials surface wettability all could be tuned via isomeride effect in self-assembly system. Interestingly, superhydrophobic surface was formed via the self-assembly of compound G-p in 1,4-dioxane and exhibited very high adsorption capacity for water. This gel system provided new method for modulation self-assembly process in supramolecular field.