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Gels
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New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and...
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New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 3942

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iván Torres Moya

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: organogels; drug crystallization; optical waveguides; organic field-effect transistors (OFETs); solar cells; organic synthesis; computational chemistry
Dr. José Ramón Carrillo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla La Mancha-IRICA, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: organic materials; supramolecular chemistry; photonic; computational chemistry; green chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that although gels were first discovered in the 1930s, only in the last few decades has research boomed in the field. Gels are supramolecular materials formed from gelators, which can be inorganic, organic molecules or polymers and are different materials in which the self-assembly of gelators into fibrous networks is driven by non-covalent interactions. In addition, solvophobic effects also play a critical role because they contribute to the gelating ability by reducing the overall solubility of a gelator in a specific solvent (water or organic solvent). These interactions and effects play an important role and confer gels with interesting properties, such as thermal and mechanical-resistant, meaning that this kind of supramolecular structures can be applied in a wide range of fields.

While gels are already being used widely, it is clear that a lot of their potential uses remain unexplored; hence, it is time to take research into gels a step further. We look forward to the submission of new results on gels with applications in different fields, such as optoelectronic, sensor, biomedical or pharmaceutical, among others. The submission of both experimental and theoretical studies is welcome.

Dr. Iván Torres Moya
Dr. José Ramón Carrillo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gels
  • organogels
  • hydrogels
  • smart materials
  • optoelectronic applications
  • drug delivery
  • drug crystallization
  • sensors

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2049 KiB  
Article
Silver Dendritic Gels with Luminescence and Aggregation-Induced Emission Effect
by Verónica Iguarbe, Pilar Romero, Anabel Elduque and Raquel Giménez
Gels 2024, 10(5), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10050291 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 244
Abstract
This work reports on a novel family of silver metallogels based on discrete coordination complexes. Structurally, they consist of dendrimers containing a trinuclear silver metallacycle at the core, with the general formula [M(μ-pz)]3, and poly(benzyl)ether branched structures with different numbers or [...] Read more.
This work reports on a novel family of silver metallogels based on discrete coordination complexes. Structurally, they consist of dendrimers containing a trinuclear silver metallacycle at the core, with the general formula [M(μ-pz)]3, and poly(benzyl)ether branched structures with different numbers or terminal alkoxy chains at the periphery. These silver metallodendrimers are able to gel low-polarity solvents such as dodecane or cyclohexane, giving rise to luminescent organogels at room temperature with the property of aggregation-induced emission (AIE). This property means that in solution or the sol state, they are weak emitters, but in the gel state, luminescence is considerably increased. In this particular case, they exhibit blue luminescence. Two different dendritic scaffolds have been studied, finding significant differences in solubility, gel formation and dependence of luminescence on temperature. The results show that properly tailored silver gelators can show luminescence in the gel state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and Biomedical Applications)
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21 pages, 7129 KiB  
Article
Single- and Multilayer Build-Up of an Antibacterial Temperature- and UV-Curing Sol–Gel System with Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
by Simon Chwatal, Sabine Pölzl, Clemens Kittinger, Jürgen Markus Lackner, Anna Maria Coclite and Wolfgang Waldhauser
Gels 2023, 9(9), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090675 - 22 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 870
Abstract
The versatility of sol–gel systems makes them ideal for functional coatings in industry. However, existing coatings are either too thin or take too long to cure. To address these issues, this paper proposes using an atmospheric pressure plasma source to fully cure and [...] Read more.
The versatility of sol–gel systems makes them ideal for functional coatings in industry. However, existing coatings are either too thin or take too long to cure. To address these issues, this paper proposes using an atmospheric pressure plasma source to fully cure and functionalize thicker sol–gel coatings in a single step. The study explores coating various substrates with sol–gel layers to make them scratch-resistant, antibacterial, and antiadhesive. Microparticles like copper, zinc, or copper flakes are added to achieve antibacterial effects. The sol–gel system can be sprayed on and quickly functionalized on the substrate. The study focuses on introducing and anchoring particles in the sol–gel layer to achieve an excellent antibacterial effect by changing the penetration depth. Overall, this method offers a more efficient and effective approach to sol–gel coatings for industrial applications. In order to achieve a layer thickness of more than 100 µm, the second part of the study proposes a multilayer system comprising 15 to 30 µm thick monolayers that can be modified by introducing fillers (such as TiO2) or scratch-resistant chemicals like titanium isopropoxide. This system also allows for individual plasma functionalization of each sol–gel layer. For instance, the top layer can be introduced with antibacterial particles, while another layer can be enhanced with fillers to increase wear resistance. The study reveals the varying antibacterial effects of spherical particles versus flat flakes and the different scratch hardnesses induced by changes in pH, number of layers, and particle introduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and Biomedical Applications)
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8 pages, 10072 KiB  
Communication
Synthesis and Investigation of Novel Optical Active SiO2 Glasses with Entrapped YAG:Ce Synthesized via Sol–Gel Method
by Monika Skruodiene, Meldra Kemere, Greta Inkrataite, Madara Leimane, Rimantas Ramanauskas, Ramunas Skaudzius and Anatolijs Sarakovskis
Gels 2023, 9(6), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9060488 - 13 Jun 2023
Viewed by 993
Abstract
We present a crack-free optically active SiO2 glass-composite material containing YAG:Ce synthesized via a modified sol–gel technique. A glass-composite material consisting of yttrium aluminum garnet doped with Ce3+ (YAG:Ce) was entrapped into a SiO2 xerogel. This composite material was prepared [...] Read more.
We present a crack-free optically active SiO2 glass-composite material containing YAG:Ce synthesized via a modified sol–gel technique. A glass-composite material consisting of yttrium aluminum garnet doped with Ce3+ (YAG:Ce) was entrapped into a SiO2 xerogel. This composite material was prepared using a sol–gel technique with modified gelation and a drying process to obtain crack-free optically active SiO2 glass. The concentration of the YAG:Ce was from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. All synthesized samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, confirming their exceptional quality and structural integrity. The luminescence properties of the obtained materials were studied. Overall, the prepared samples’ excellent structural and optical quality makes them great candidates for further investigation, or even potential practical application. Furthermore, boron-doped YAG:Ce glass was synthesized for the first time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and Biomedical Applications)
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Review

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18 pages, 4124 KiB  
Review
Recent Insights about the Role of Gels in Organic Photonics and Electronics
by Josué M. Galindo, Carlos Tardío, Basanta Saikia, Stijn Van Cleuvenbergen and Iván Torres-Moya
Gels 2023, 9(11), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9110875 - 04 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1265
Abstract
This review article provides an in-depth exploration of the role of gels in the fields of organic electronics and photonics, focusing on their unique properties and applications. Despite their remarkable potential, gel-based innovations remain relatively uncharted in these domains. This brief review aims [...] Read more.
This review article provides an in-depth exploration of the role of gels in the fields of organic electronics and photonics, focusing on their unique properties and applications. Despite their remarkable potential, gel-based innovations remain relatively uncharted in these domains. This brief review aims to bridge the knowledge gap by shedding light on the diverse roles that gels can fulfil in the enhancement of organic electronic and photonic devices. From flexible electronics to light-emitting materials, we delve into specific examples of gel applications, highlighting their versatility and promising outcomes. This work serves as an indispensable resource for researchers interested in harnessing the transformative power of gels within these cutting-edge fields. The objective of this review is to raise awareness about the overlooked research potential of gels in optoelectronic materials, which have somewhat diminished in recent years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights and Challenges of Gels: Smart Materials, Optoelectronic and Biomedical Applications)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

1.

Tentative title: Silver dendritic gels with luminescence and AIE effect

Author: Raquel Giménez, et al.

 

2.

Tentative title: simulations and theory on the dynamics in reversible networks

Author: Michael Lang, et al.

 

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