Invited
Noncovalent aqua materials

Materials based on small molecules that are held together by noncovalent interactions can offer an alternative to conventional polymer materials for applications that require adaptive and stimuli-responsive features. However, it is challenging to engineer macroscopic noncovalent materials that are sufficiently robust for practical applications. We will describe our work on “aqua materials” based on well-defined organic molecules. These materials are uniquely assembled in aqueous media, where they harness the strength of the hydrophobic and π-π interactions to achieve robustness. Despite their high stability, these supramolecular systems can dynamically respond to external stimuli. We discuss design principles, fundamental properties and applications of two classes of aqua materials: (1) supramolecular gels and (2) nanocrystalline arrays. The functional materials based on them include recyclable filtration membranes for preparative nanoparticle separation, water purification and catalysis, as well as nanocrystalline films for switchable surface coatings and optoelectronic devices.