Responsive nanotubular organo-gelator

A facile approach for the synthesis of responsive polymer composite nanotubular organogelators in large scale is reported. The exterior surface of the nanotubes is coarsening and hydrophobic after favorable growth of paramagnetic nanoparticles and oleic acid modification. All the tested organic solvents with varied polarities can be fast gelated by the addition of the composite nanotubular organogelators. The formed gel is easily removed from water with a magnet. A thermal responsive polymer PNIPAM is used to modify the surface of the composite nanotubes, it endows the release of captured oil from the gel by decreasing temperature. The composite nanotubular organogelators are promising in collecting chemical spills from water.