Entropy-driven supramolecular glass processed under ambient heating

Glass is an indispensable material in both industrial manufacturing and everyday life. Its development has spanned from traditional silicate glasses to advanced forms such as polymers, amorphous metals, and organic or hybrid glasses. Herein, a novel benzoguanamine-derived supramolecular glass (BGG) is synthesized through a straightforward process: a commercially available molecule is heated in an ambient environment, which condenses into a series of oligomers and forms a melted and homogenous matter. The high-entropy nature of the liquid intermediate is highly unfavorable to crystallization, as a result, natural cooling allows for curing and leads to the formation of rigid supramolecular glass, which is reminiscent of the traditional procedures of inorganic glass production. The prepared BGG features remarkable optical properties and ease of manipulation and scalability, which renders it an excellent candidate for applications in films and fibers for photovoltaics and photonic waveguides. Furthermore, various energy-transfer hybrids are developed based on the BGG framework, including solid solutions with fluorescent molecules and core-shell nanocomposites integrated with perovskite particles, which showcases its versatility as a platform for creating advanced materials with tailored properties.