Smart materials based on self-assembled hydrogen-bonded comb-shaped supramolecules.
Block copolymer self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry can be combined most naturally to prepare smart polymer nanomaterials. An attractive route is based on comb-shaped supramolecules, obtained by attaching side chains to (co)polymers by physical (non-covalent) interactions. Hydrogen bonding is a key element of our approach. It combines an ease of synthesis with other important approach-specific elements, such as hierarchical self-assembly, strongly enhanced processability, swelling, and cleaving. Functional properties discussed include anisotropic proton conductivity, switching proton conductivity, electronically conducting nanowires, polarized luminance, dielectric stacks (optical reflectivity), functional membranes, and nano objects.
ten Brinke
Gerrit
G
Materials Science Centre, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, The Netherlands. brinke@chem.rug.nl
Ikkala
Olli
O
D016880:Anisotropy; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004583:Electrons; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011522:Protons; D013696:Temperature
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D011522:Protons