The Polyrotaxane Gel: A Topological Gel by Figure-of-Eight Cross-links

Supramolecules with topological characteristicshave attracted great interest both experimentally and theoretically. A new kind of gel has been obtained by chemically cross-linking polyrotaxane molecules in solution. The polymer chains are topologically interlocked by figure-of-eight cross-links (see Figure), which can pass along the polymer chains freely to equalize the "tension" of the threaded polymer chains just like pulleys.