Suberic Acid-Based Supramolecular Metallogels of Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) for Anti-Pathogenic Activity and Semiconducting Diode Fabrication

The importance of three synthesizedmetallogels of suberic aciddistinctly with nickel, zinc, and cadmium acetate salts has been uncovered.For the creation of these soft materials, N,N '-dimethyl formamide was utilized as a source ofthe trapped solvent. The synthesized metallogels display intriguingviscoelasticity, and the interpretation of experimental parametersobtained from rheological results advocates the gel behavior. Microstructuralanalysis combined with energy-dispersive X-ray confirms the occurrenceof individual gel-developing constituents as observed in differenthierarchical microstructural patterns. Significant variations in microstructuralarrangements with diverse extent of supramolecular non-covalent patternsinside gel networks were perceived through field emission scanningelectron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electronmicroscopy analyses. Fourier transform infrared and electrospray ionization-massspectral analyses and powder X-ray diffraction analysis of metallogelsamples of different gel-establishing ingredients help to investigatethe possible supramolecular interactions dictating the metallogelscaffolds. Thermogravimetric analysis of xerogel samples was collectedfrom the synthesized metallogels to understand the thermal stability.These gel materials were characterized by their potential antibacterialefficiency. The potency of metallogels against selective Gram-positiveand Gram-negative bacteria was visualized via a spectrophotometer.Human pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 109), Salmonella typhi (MTCC733), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus (MTCC 1272), Lactobacillusfermentum (NCDO 955), and Staphylococcusaureus (MTCC 96) are employed in this study. Apartfrom the biological significance, our metallogels demonstrate as incrediblediode performance of fabricated semiconducting systems, which exhibita considerable amount of non-linearity demonstrating a non-ohmic conductionmechanism at room temperature in dark conditions. Device fabricationwas achieved from these metallogels employing the sandwich model withindium tin oxide-coated glass substrates/metallogel/Al structure.