Temperature-dependent binary 

solvent structure of solvent 

segregation driven gel (SeedGel)

Aurora Zemborain

The Pritzker School of 

Molecular Engineering

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL 60637

1
Bicontinuous Structure Applications

Nanoparticle Gel Unites Oil and Water in Manufacturing-Friendly Approach, NIST, 2021 2
What is SeedGel?

● Bicontinuous channels

● Thermo-reversible

● Gel phase at higher 

temperatures

Nature Communications 2021, 12, 910 Langmuir 2021, 37 (6), 2170-2178 3
SeedGel Domains

Nature Communications 2021, 12, 910

Water and 

silica particles

2,6-Lutidine 

or 3MP

Soft Matter 2016, 12(18)

Bulk Solvent Phase Diagram

4

Liquid Phase Gel Phase
SeedGel has Unique Optical Properties

● Structure color

● Dependent on temperature

● Dynamically tunable

Patent Pending 5
Types of Data

● Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS)

● Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)

● Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS)

● Ultra-Small Angle Neutron Scattering 

(USANS)

Hammouda, The Sans Toolbox, NIST 6
System #1

Water and 2,6-lutidine binary solvent

7
SANS Data

8

Liquid Phase

Gel Phase
Form Factor Modeling

SasView Version 5.0.4, Zenodo

Small-Angle Scattering of X-Rays, 1955 9
Structure Factor

q = 0.001318 q = 0.04987 10
Temperature Trends at Select q Positions

d = 2π/q

length scale

 .

 0.001318 = 476.721

 0.04987 = 12.599

11
System #2

Water and 3-methylpyridine (3MP) binary solvent

12
SeedGel with Hydrogenated 3MP

SAXS Data

Length 

scale of 

further 

analysis

13
SeedGel with Deuterated 3MP

SAXS Data

Length 

scale of 

further 

analysis

14
Deuterated vs Hydrogenated 3MP

15
Conclusions

● Various binary solvents

● Tunable gel transition temperature

● Solvent separation and gelation coincide

● Deuteration increased gelation temperature

16
Acknowledgements ● Yuyin Xi, NCNR / University of Delaware ● Yun Liu, NCNR / University of Delaware ● Brandi Toliver, NIST ● Susana Teixeira, NCNR ● Joseph Dura, NCNR ● Julie Borchers, NCNR ● Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship ● National Institute of Standards and Technology ● NIST Center for Neutron Research ● Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering ● Brookhaven Synchrotron Light Source II

17
Bijel vs SeedGel

Unlike bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gel (Bijel) which has its particles jammed at the interphase between the two 

solvents in the gel phase, SeedGel has its silica particles jammed into one of the solvent domains in gel phase.

Reference

Remove bijel half, include phase diagram for water/lut online

18
A4 WAXS Data Peaks

19
A1 - A binary solvent of 73.7 vol% H2O and 

26.3 vol% H-3MP

Go up to what temp?

Maybe skip

20
A3 - A binary solvent of 53.8 vol% H2O and 

46.2 vol% H-3MP

Add insets

Maybe skips

21
Solvent Comparison Graphs

22
Gauss fittings to obtain the peak 

positions

A4 - Gel A1 A3

23
C2

Add in graphs and comments

24
SM

25
Background

To touch on:

-reversibility

-gelation occurs with increase in temp

-

Keep at least journal name, page number

Include authors if enough space

Keep consistent throughout

26
Gauss Fitting for solvents

27
A2

Q vs Temp for WAXS data peaks

28
Previous Findings

● Transition temp of 26C

-So what were we looking for within the structure factor

29
A2- A binary solvent of 63.6 vol% H2O and 

36.4 vol% H-3MP

WAXS Data

SAXS

Possibly skip?

30
TM

Correct: S(q)*contrast

Which TM graphs to use?

Ignore

31
A4 - 22.7 vol% Particle and 77.3 vol% binary solvent

 (63.6 vol% H2O and 36.4 vol% H-3MP)

SAXS Data WAXS Data

Remove WAXS bc not including further analysis Draw line for B4 vs A4 comp q

32
B4 - 22.7 vol% Particle and 77.3 vol% binary solvent

 (63.6 vol% H2O and 36.4 vol% D-3MP)

SAXS Data WAXS Data

33