Hierarchical chromonic structures

Abstract

A method of making a chromonic structure comprises (a) preparing a first aqueous mixture comprising (i) a continuous water-soluble polymer phase and (ii) a discontinuous chromonic phase comprising a chromonic material, to form chromonic nanoparticles; (b) non-covalently crosslinking the resulting chromonic nanoparticles with a multivalent cation salt; (c) dispersing the resulting crosslinked chromonic nanoparticles in a water-soluble polymer phase to form a chromonic nanoparticle dispersion; and (d) preparing a second aqueous mixture comprising (i) the chromonic nanoparticle dispersion and (ii) a continuous chromonic phase comprising a chromonic material.

1 . A chromonic structure comprising: a continuous chromonic phase comprising water-soluble polymer domains containing chromonic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         2 . The chromonic structure of  claim 1  wherein the chromonic nanoparticles further comprise a guest compound. 
     
     
         3 . The chromonic structure of  claim 1  wherein the continuous chromonic phase further comprises a guest compound. 
     
     
         4 . The chromonic structure of  claim 1  wherein the chromonic nanoparticles and the continuous chromonic phase each further comprise an independently selected guest compound. 
     
     
         5 . The chromonic structure of  claim 1  wherein the water-soluble polymer domains have primary dimensions between about 500 nanometers and about 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The chromonic structure of  claim 1  wherein the chromonic nanoparticles have primary dimensions between about 300 nanometers and about 10 microns.