Stable and transient self-propagating supramolecular gelation

Abstract

The ability to program sol–gel transition in time is key for living organisms to maintain their vital functions and to grow complex materials. Replicating this behavior with synthetic chemical networks is challenging, but highly rewarding for the design of intelligent biomimetic materials. Thanks to a combination of autocatalysis and supramolecular complexation, the iodate–hydroxymethanesulfinate–poly(vinyl alcohol) system features the emergence of self-propagating gelation fronts, stable or transient depending on the fine-tuning of the system.