title: Activation energies control the macroscopic properties of physically cross-linked materials.
abstract: Here we show the preparation of a series of water-based physically cross-linked polymeric materials utilizing cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) ternary complexes displaying a range of binding, and therefore cross-linking, dynamics. We determined that the mechanical strength of these materials is correlated directly with a high energetic barrier for the dissociation of the CB[8] ternary complex cross-links, whereas facile and rapid self-healing requires a low energetic barrier to ternary complex association. The versatile CB[8] ternary complex has, therefore, proven to be a powerful asset for improving our understanding of challenging property-structure relationships in supramolecular systems and their associated influence on the bulk behavior of dynamically cross-linked materials.
authors: Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
authors: Eric A
authors: EA
authors: Appel
authors: Rebecca A
authors: RA
authors: Forster
authors: Alexandros
authors: A
authors: Koutsioubas
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Toprakcioglu
authors: Oren A
authors: OA
authors: Scherman
keywords: macromolecules; nanomaterials; self-healing; supramolecular polymers