title: Functional materials based on self-assembly of polymeric supramolecules.
abstract: Self-assembly of polymeric supramolecules is a powerful tool for producing functional materials that combine several properties and may respond to external conditions. We illustrate the concept using a comb-shaped architecture. Examples include the hexagonal self-organization of conjugated conducting polymers and the polarized luminance in solid-state films of rodlike polymers obtained by removing the hydrogen-bonded side chains from the aligned thermotropic smectic phase. Hierarchically structured materials obtained by applying different self-organization and recognition principles and directed assembly form a basis for tunable nanoporous materials, smart membranes, preparation of nano-objects, and anisotropic properties, such as proton conductivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics and Center for New Materials, Helsinki University of Technology, Post Office Box 2200, FIN-02015 HUT, Espoo, Finland. Olli.Ikkala@hut.fi
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ikkala
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: ten Brinke
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA