Manipulating supramolecular self-assembly via tailoring pendant group size of linear vinyl polymers.
In a series of poly[di(alkyl) vinylterephthalates] (PDAVTs) synthesized via radical polymerization, fine-tuning the size and shape of the side groups manipulated the supramolecular self-assembly and led to control over the formations between amorphous and 2D ordered hexagonal phases. To introduce the 2D long-range ordered structure, the size of the ester side groups at the 2- and 5-positions of the phenyl rings laterally attached to the backbones had to be in the range of propyl/isopropyl to hexyl. The relatively extended backbones observed in these polymers were attributed to steric effects from the side groups. When the n-alkyl groups were larger than hexyl, the ability to form the liquid crystalline phase gradually decreased. A completely disordered phase could be observed by substituting dodecyl groups as side groups.
Yin
Xiao-Ying
XY
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Ye
Chun
C
Ma
Xun
X
Chen
Er-Qiang
EQ
Qi
Xiao-Ying
XY
Duan
Xiao-Feng
XF
Wan
Xin-Hua
XH
Cheng
Stephen Z D
SZ
Zhou
Qi-Feng
QF