Effective Gelation of Water Using a Series of Bis-urea Dicarboxylic Acids

At concentrations as low as 0.3 wt % a novel family of bis-urea dicarboxylic acids gel water (see picture). The aggregation state (vesicles, gel, or fibers) depends on the pH, the ionic strength, and the molecular weight of the gelator. In this way, the gelation properties of an aqueous system are controlled by the molecular design.