A novel organic ligand 2-pyridylaldehyde-4'-dodecyloxybenzoyl hydrazone ( L ) with a long alkyl chain and a coordination group was designed and synthesized.The molecular structure of L was confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectrum

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum

electrospray ionization-mass (ESI-MS) spectrum and elemental analysis (EA). L itself could gel the mixture of ethanol and water at suitable weight ratios to form white gels (defined as L gel) by mixing method. L could also gel the ethanol and water mixture with a series of metal ions

including Co(Ⅱ)

Ni(Ⅱ)

Zn(Ⅱ) and Cu(Ⅱ) to form metallogels.The SEM observation revealed that networks of fibers were formed in both the L gel and the Cu(Ⅱ) based metallogels.As indicated by the ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra

the drastic decrease in the extinction coefficient at max as the concentration of L confirmed the formation of aggregates of L molecules in ethanol.The rheological properties of the gel samples were tested by plate rheometer.The metallogels displayed improved strength and gel stability compared to L gel at the same gel concentration.Furthermore

the coordination complex of L and Cu(Ⅱ) at molar ratio of 2 ∶1 was synthesized and confirmed by ESI-MS.According to the FTIR spectra and UV absorption spectra of the coordination complex and the CuAc2 based metallogel

the coordination between L and metal ions was found to exist in the metallogel.