Hierarchical composite self-sorted supramolecular gel noodles

Multicomponent supramolecular systems can be used to achieve different properties and new behaviors compared to their corresponding single component systems. Here, we use a two-component system, showing that a non-gelling component modifies the assembly of the gelling component, allowing access to co-assembled structures that cannot be formed from the gelling component alone. We characterize the systems across multiple length scales, from the molecular level by NMR and CD spectroscopy, to the microstructure level by SANS and finally to the material level using nanoindentation and rheology. By exploiting the enhanced mechanical properties achieved through addition of the second component, we formed multicomponent noodles with superior mechanical properties to those formed by the single component system. Furthermore, the non-gelling component can be triggered to crystallize within the multicomponent noodles, allowing us to prepare new types of hierarchical composite noodles.