Hydrogen-Bonding Density of Supramolecular Self-Assembled Fibrillar Networks Probed Using Synchrotron Infrared Spectromicroscopy

We employed synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy to provide new insights into the development of self-assembled fibrillar networks. The noncovalent interactions responsible for the occurrence of transient junction zone in 12HSA arise because of hydroxyl−hydroxyl hydrogen bonding. This may result from the preferential arrangement of carboxylic acid groups to dimerize within the fiber, resulting in a reduction of the fiber−solvent interfacial tension. As well, synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy indicates that the crystallization process of SAFiNs efficiently displaces solvent from the interface of the growing crystals contributing to the epitaxial growth into axially symmetric elongated aggregates. The periodicity in the density of hydrogen bonding resolves the supramolecular chirality of 12HSA fibers.