Microstructural control of supramolecular hydrogel by teslaphoresis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H07350
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Organic and hybrid materials
• Research Institution: National Institute for Materials Science
• Principal Investigator: NGO Huynh Thien 国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構, 機能性材料研究拠点, NIMSポスドク研究員 (60723484)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-08-25 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Teslaphoresis / hydrogel / supramolecular chemistry

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using the new technique Teslaphoresis, I could align the carbon nanotubes in synthetic hydrogel using supramolecular interactions. The hydrogel showed enhanced mechanical strength and stability. Furthermore, we investigated the anisotropic properties, such as conductivity of the hydrogel-carbon nanotube hybrids. depending on the direction of the alignment, we could enhance the conductivity of the gel in certain directions. In another related topic, we used the pluronic hydrogels as receptor materials for the membrane-type surface stress sensor MSS to detect various gasses. We observe that the direction of the alignment of carbon nanotubes strongly affects the sensitivity. In some cases we could enhance over 1000 times the sensitivity of the sensor materials. This remarkable finding is now under further investigation.

Free Research Field

materials science

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

The result of this investigation extends the academia and has many applications in real world.
We can now make stronger hydrogels using aligned carbon nanotubes for stronger water-like materials. We could detect small concentration of gases using this hydrogel, useful for agricultural applications.