Aligning self-assembled gelators by drying under shear

Chem Commun (Camb). 2016 May 25;52(42):6934-7. doi: 10.1039/c6cc02824a. Epub 2016 May 5.

Abstract

We show how drying under shear can be used to prepare aligned fibres and worm-like micelles from low molecular weight gelators. Shearing followed by drying leads to the dealignment before the water can be removed; continuous shear whilst drying is required to maintain the alignment. Combining a slow pH change with continuous shear allows alignment of the gelling fibres, which can then be dried.