Fig. 3. Modifying the rheology of a polymer solution by growing microrods in situ.

a Photos of representative samples (left to right): All components, No McMT control, and No ZnO control. After the formation of the microrods, the viscosity of the solution changes, thus preventing flow when the vial is turned upside down. This phenomenon does not occur in the control samples. b Shear viscosity measurements of the samples. The shear viscosity measurement of the polyurethane alone is included for reference. All reactions and rheological measurements were done in triplicate (Supplementary Figs. 23 and 24).