Light-Harvesting Supramolecular Hydrogels Assembled from Short-Legged Cationic L-Glutamate Derivatives and Anionic Fluorophores

Supramolecular hydrogels (see Figure for structure) are spontaneously formed by mixing aqueous dispersions of short-“legged” ammonium amphiphiles and fluorescent anions. Energy transfer between donor (naphthalene) and acceptor (anthracene) anions is shown to be more efficient in the hydrogels compared to that in dilute aqueous bilayer dispersions.