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.

Restudy of the unusual phase behavior of the mesogen-jacketed liquid crystal polymers

“…The intensities of diffraction maxima are not identical, which may be caused by the defects in the sample's orientation and relaxation during cooling. Considering the similar X-ray results reported previously [4,6,19] , the supramolecular hexagonal columnar nematic phase is proposed for this sample in which the supramolecular columnar, instead of the mesogen groups, possesses the nematic orientational order.…”

“…The specific characteristic of MJLCPs is that the director of LC phase is determined by the main chain instead of the side chain. Following the concept, within the past 18 years, we have focused on the design and synthesis of MJLCP [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . As a result, the backbones and mesogens in these MJLPC samples are strongly coupled in the formation of LC phases.…”

Supramolecular complexes based on liquid‐crystalline polysiloxanes and copper phthalocyanine

“…Along the long molecular axis, ion transport behaviors become more efficient than those perpendicular to the direction corresponding to the original direction of the ionic sublayers. Moreover, the lateral substitution favors steric hindrance, the molecular width becomes larger and the centers of gravity of two adjacent molecular chains are shifted, resulting in the expansion of the electron transport orbit . Table presents the normalized conductivity of SCPs.…”

Synthesis and properties of mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystalline polymers containing bistolane mesogen

“…The columnar nematic phase (ϕ N ) is one of the most often observed phase structures in these MJLCPs 26. Higher‐ordered liquid crystalline (LC) structures, such as hexatic columnar nematic phase (ϕ HN ) and hexagonal columnar phase (ϕ H ) have also been observed 25–29. However, the rod‐like chain shall not be the only molecular shape of MJLCPs.…”