Sonication induced peptide-appended bolaamphiphile hydrogels for in situ generation and catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles

Abstract

The self-assembly of peptide based bolaamphiphiles is investigated upon sonication. We show the ability of peptide bolaamphiphiles 1 and 2 to form strong and rigid self-supporting hydrogels under physiological conditions upon sonication. The self-assembly of higher order supramolecular structures occurs through a synergic effect of hydrogen bonding and π-stacking interactions. Phenylalanine rich peptide bolaamphiphile 2 self-assembles into well-defined nanoribbons whereas tyrosine rich functional material 1 self-assembles into nanofibrillar structures that can be used as a template for in situ generation of platinum nanoparticles. Furthermore, hydrogenation reactions are catalyzed by in situ synthesized Pt nanoparticles such as p-phenylenediamine, which is prepared by the reaction of p-nitroaniline with Pt nanoparticles. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.