Hydrophobic eutectogels: a new outfit for non-ionic eutectic solvents

• Published in: Materials today chemistry 2023-04, Vol.29, p.101402, Article 101402
• Main Authors: de Araujo Lima e Souza, G., Di Pietro, M.E., Vanoli, V., Panzeri, W., Briatico-Vangosa, F., Castiglione, F., Mele, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Confinement; Diffusion dynamics; Hydrophobic eutectic solvents; Intermolecular interactions; LMWG; Soft material; Supramolecular gel
• ISSN: 2468-5194; 2468-5194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2023.101402

Hydrophobic non-ionic eutectogels (HEG) are prepared for the first time from hydrophobic non-ionic (type V) eutectic solvents (HES) in a simple one-pot procedure with a low-cost low molecular weight gelator. Stable and homogeneous gels were obtained in a matter of minutes at a very low loading, with a preparation process ranked as “excellent” in the EcoScale metrics. We illustrate that the liquid-like nature of the hydrophobic mixture is retained upon gelation. From a physicochemical viewpoint, the major finding is the unexpected increase of the diffusive motion of the components in the HEG compared to pure HES. In one case, two populations corresponding to fast and slow diffusion components have been detected. These features of HEG overall open up new horizons toward technological applications requiring solid-like, yet mobile systems, and could promote their usage on a large scale. [Display omitted] •Environmentally friendly hydrophobic non-ionic eutectogels are introduced.•A simple one-pot procedure with a low-cost low molecular weight gelator is presented.•The liquid-like nature of the hydrophobic mixture is retained upon gelation.•The diffusive motion of the components is unexpectedly increased upon gelation.•Confinement effects are detected in the system with the strongest dispersive forces.