A dithienylethene-based rewritable hydrogelator.

Dithienylethene photochromic switching units have been incorporated into a hydrogelating system based on a tripeptide motif. The resulting hybrid system provided both a photochromic response and the ability to gelate water under acidic and neutral conditions. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that the dithienylethene units are in sufficient proximity to each other to stack in gel fibers, with the tripeptide unit determining solubility. TEM measurements provided insight into the microscopic structure of the fibers formed.