writer：Zhenfeng He, Huanbing Wang, Yinglin Wang, Haolong Li,* Lihua Bi, Lixin Wu,
keywords：polyoxometalate， supramolecularpolymer gel
source：期刊
specific source：Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 3315–3321.
Issue time：2012年

An organically pyridyl-grafted Anderson-type POM complex (TBA–Py–MnMo6) bearing counterions

of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) was found to form supramolecular gels instantaneously through mixing

with appropriate dicarboxylic acid additives in acetonitrile. In the gelation process, TBA–Py–MnMo6

was confirmed to self-assemble into supramolecular polymer chains through unidirectional hydrogen

bonding between the pyridyl groups of POMs and the carboxylic groups of dicarboxylic acids, which

drove the complexes into one-dimensional fibers. The fibers were demonstrated to further intertwine

together through the lateral hydrogen bonding between polymer chains under the support of excess

acid, forming three-dimensional networks. The distance between TBA–Py–MnMo6 units secluded by

dicarboxylic acid was proved to be a criterion for the formation of gels, which is related to the TBA

density along the supramolecular polymer chains and the solvent–fiber interfacial energy. The gelation

behaviour of the hybrid POM complex can be simply controlled through adjusting the length of

dicarboxylic acids. More interestingly, the POM hybrid gels exhibited a quick response to organic bases

and diacids reversibly.