Determination of the Fractal Characteristic of Nanofiber-Network Formation in Supramolecular Materials

Fractal growth of nanofiber networks from a small-molecule organic gel has been identified and measured in situ for the first time by a new rheological method. The unique nucleation and growth mechanism promises the manipulation of the fractal structure and rheological properties of functional supramolecular materials by changing experimental conditions. The picture shows an image of such a pattern under a polarizing microscope; the scheme at the center illustrates the microscale structure of the network.