School of Chemistry Colloquium: Professor David Smith Hard Facts About Soft Matter: From Supramolecular Gels to High-Tech Applications

Supramolecular gels are fascinating materials formed when low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) self-assemble via intermolecular non-covalent interactions.[1] The use of simple self-assembly methodology means these materials can be very easily formed from a variety of low-cost, environmentally-friendly, molecular-scale building blocks, opening up the possibility of high- tech applications being achieved by multi-component supramolecular materials.[2] In particular, we have developed innovative approaches to shape, pattern and structure these gels,[3] including creating highly dynamic smart materials.[4] This talk will exemplify our recent development of commercially-relevant supramolecular gels to approach a range of applications, including reaction engineering,[5] drug delivery,[6] and regenerative medicine.[7]

References
1 R. G. Weiss, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 7519; D. J. Adams, J. Am,. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 11047.
2 D. K. Smith, in Molecular Gels: Structure and Dynamics, Ed. R. G. Weiss, RSC, Cambridge, 2018, pp 300-371
3 P. R. A. Chivers, D. K. Smith, Nat. Rev. Mater. 2019, 4, 463.
4 L. Schlichter, C.C. Piras, D.K. Smith, Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 4162 H.S. Cooke, L. Schlichter, C.C. Piras, D.K. Smith,
Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 12156. C. Tangsombun, D. K. Smith, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024 in press.
5 P. Slavik, D. W. Kurka, D. K. Smith, Chem. Sci. 2019, 58, 4173. C.C. Piras, P. Slavik, D. K. Smith, Angew. Chem.
Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 853. P. Slavik, B. R. Trowse, P. O'Brien, D. K. Smith, Nat. Chem., 2023, 15, 319-325.
6 E. J. Howe, B. O. Okesola, D. K. Smith, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 7451. P. R. A. Chivers, D. K. Smith, Chem.
Sci., 2017, 8, 7218. C.C. Piras, C. S. Mahon, D. K. Smith, Chem. Eur. J., 2020, 26, 8452. A.K. Patterson, D.K. Smith, Chem. Commun. 2020, 56, 11046. C.C. Piras, A.G. Kay. P.G Genever, D.K. Smith, Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 3958. J. T-W. Wang, A. C. Rodrigo, A. K. Patterson, K. Hawkins, M. M. S. Aly, J. Sun, K. T. Al Jamal, D. K. Smith, Adv. Sci., 2021, 8, 2101058.
7 C. C. Piras, A. G. Kay, P. G. Genever, J. Fitremann, D. K. Smith, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 1972-1981. C.C. Piras, P.G. Genever, D.K. Smith, Mater. Adv. 2022, 3, 7966. C.C. Piras, C.S. Mahon, P.G. Genever, D.K. Smith, ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2022, 8, 1829.

For details regarding the speaker and their research please see their website.