Hierarchical Structure of Multicomponent Gels

Supramolecular gels form via the self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) into complex, hierarchical structures. Here we propose a SESANS study of our multicomponent gels prepared using two different gelators. Our group has used rheology, NMR and SEM to characterise these gels but we have been unable to measure relevant sizes. The SESANS experiment aims to further our understanding of multicomponent gels through characterisation of primary fibre structures and network formation. We target systems that vary in their degree of transparencies in a systematic way (as a function of composition). By fully characterising the gel structure in the range of several hundreds of nm to micrometers we gain information relevant to the mechanical properties of the gels.