Nanoscale Probing of the Supramolecular Assembly in a Two‐Component Gel by Near‐Field Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

AbstractThe design of soft biomaterials requires a deep understanding of molecular self‐assembly. Here a nanoscale infrared (IR) spectroscopy study of a two‐component supramolecular gel is introduced to assess the system's heterogeneity and supramolecular assembly. In contrast to far‐field IR spectroscopy, near‐field IR spectroscopy revealed differences in the secondary structures of the gelator molecules and non‐covalent interactions at three distinct nano‐locations of the gel network. A β‐sheet arrangement is dominant in single and parallel fibres with a small proportion of an α‐helix present, while the molecular assembly derives from strong hydrogen bonding. However, at the crossing point of two fibres, only the β‐sheet motif is observed, with an intense π–π stacking contribution. Near‐field nanospectroscopy can become a powerful tool for the nanoscale distinction of non‐covalent interactions, while it is expected to advance the existing spectroscopic assessments of supramolecular gels.