Small Organic Non–gelators Evincing Radical Control over Morphology and Rheology of a Weak Metallogel

Two arrays of “Inorganic-Organic Mixed Gels” (IOMGs) based on terpyridyl complexes have been synthesized combining progelator/non-gelators with easily available, inexpensive and non-reactive small organic non-gelators (SOnGs). This new class of multicomponent gels displays radical changes in morphological patterns and enormous enhancement in their viscoelastic properties relative to weak metallogel (ZTP2G) derived from the progelator only. It has been unequivocally shown that twisting or coiling in gels diminishes as well as their viscoelastic strengths with simple alteration of heteroatoms, their number and positions in SOnGs. Multicomponent gelation is quite complicated considering the susceptibility of anion triggered metallogels towards various external stimuli which has been profoundly outdone. The present approach may be extremely beneficial for negating limitations in the usage of weak metallogels with promising efficacy in specified areas.