Gel to gel transitions by dynamic self-assembly

Gel transitions in colloidal suspensions

The idealized mode-coupling theory (MCT) is applied to colloidal systems interacting via short-range attractive interactions of Yukawa form. At low temperatures, MCT predicts a slowing down of the local dynamics and ergodicity-breaking transitions. The non-ergodicity transitions share many features with the colloidal gel transition, and are proposed to be the source of gelation in colloidal sys...

Linking self-assembly, rheology, and gel transition in attractive colloids

Gel–gel adhesion by tethered polymers

The behavior of tethered polymers on gel/gel adhesion is studied with the single-chain mean-field ~SCMF! theory. It is shown that the gel surface structure, the gel/gel adhesion strength, the equilibrium gel/gel distance, and the detailed interface structures can be tailored by specifically designed tethered layers on gel surfaces. The SCMF theory allows to study the effect of various variables...

Photoswitchable gel assembly based on molecular recognition

The formation of effective and precise linkages in bottom-up or top-down processes is important for the development of self-assembled materials. Self-assembly through molecular recognition events is a powerful tool for producing functionalized materials. Photoresponsive molecular recognition systems can permit the creation of photoregulated self-assembled macroscopic objects. Here we demonstrat...

Alkali cold gelation of whey proteins. Part I: sol-gel-sol(-gel) transitions.

The cold gelation of preheated whey protein isolate (WPI) solutions at alkaline conditions (pH>10) has been studied to better understand the effect of NaOH in the formation and destruction of whey protein aggregates and gels. Oscillatory rheology has been used to follow the gelation process, resulting in novel and different gelation profiles with the gelation pH. At low alkaline pH, typical sol...