title: Manipulating supramolecular self-assembly via tailoring pendant group size of linear vinyl polymers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Er-Qiang
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Stephen Z D
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Qi-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Zhou