Семестровая работа на тему: «Functional Materials Based on Self-Assembly of Polymeric Supramolecules»
VIEWPOINT Functional Materials Based on Self-Assembly of Polymeric Supramolecules

Self-assembly of polymeric supramolecules is a powerful tool for producing functional materials that combine several properties and may respond to external conditions. We illustrate the concept using a comb-shaped architecture. Examples include the hexagonal self-organization of conjugated conducting polymers and the polarized luminance in solid-state films of rodlike polymers obtained by removing the hydrogen-bonded side chains from the aligned thermotropic smectic phase. Hierarchically structured materials obtained by applying different self-organization and recognition principles and directed assembly form a basis for tunable nano-porous materials, smart membranes, preparation of nano-objects, and anisotropic properties, such as proton conductivity.

Recently there has been much effort to develop novel concepts for preparing structures and objects approaching the molecular level. Electronics miniaturization provides a strong motivation because present-day lithography faces fundamental problems in achieving further reduction in feature sizes by orders of magnitude. For example, molecular-level switching elements based on interlocking rings and their use in memory elements in electronics have been studied by the groups of Stoddart and Heath.

There have also been attempts not only to construct individual nanoscale functional features but also to control bulk materials structures, defects, and anisotropy at all length scales from the macroscopic scale down to the molecular level. Very recently, it was demonstrated that if sufficiently high-quality single crystals can be grown by vapor deposition, even organic oligomers can have high charge-carrier mobilities, as well as showing lasing and luminance. In polymers, spin-cast self-organized polyalkylthiophenes have recently been shown to have enhanced charge-carrier mobility and even superconductivity. However, although self-organization allows high structural control at the local length scale, the inherent tendency for coiling of polyalkylthiophenes causes folds, as visualized by Bauerle et al. In such polymers, it may be fundamentally difficult to achieve a monodomain-like structure with high overall order.

Here, we describe some possibilities for preparing functional polymeric materials using the "bottom-up" route, based on self-assembly of polymeric supramolecules. Directed assembly leads to the control of structure at several length scales and anisotropic properties. The physical bonds within the supramolecules allow controlled cleavage of selected constituents. The techniques constitute a general platform for constructing materials that combine several properties that can be tuned separately.

To achieve enhanced functionalities, the principal periodicity is at -10 to 2000 Å.

There are established ways to accomplish this by using various architectures of block copolymers, in which the structure formation is based on self-organization, that is, on the repulsion between the chemically connected blocks. Depending on the architecture, block length, and temperature, it is possible to obtain lamellar, cylindrical, spherical, gyroid, or more complicated structures in the 100 to 2000 Å range. Also, rodlike moieties within the block copolymers can be used to further tailor the structures in terms of shape persistency. However, self-organization renders only the local structures. To fully realize the opportunities offered by the symmetry of the self-organized structures to prepare materials with a strongly directional variation of properties, additional mechanisms and interactions have to be invoked to obtain macroscale order. This may be achieved by flow, by electric or magnetic fields, or by using topographically patterned surfaces. One can further extend the structural complexity by mixing block copolymers with additional polymers and inorganic additives, thereby increasing the self-organization periods into the photonic band gap regime. Block copolymers have also been used as templates for the synthesis of inorganic materials, even allowing the creation of separate ceramic nano-objects.

To achieve even greater structural complexity and functionality, we can combine recognition with self-organization. Lehn elaborated on the concept of recognition in synthetic materials, whereby two molecules with molecularly matching complementary interactions and shapes recognize each other and form a receptor-substrate supramolecule. To achieve sufficient bonding, synergism of several physical interactions is often required. Homopolymerlike supramolecules have been constructed based on a combination of four hydrogen bonds and through coordination. Supramolecules can spontaneously assemble or self-organize to form larger structures.

A general framework for forming complex functional materials emerges. Molecules are constructed that recognize each other in a designed way. The subsequent supramolecules in turn form assemblies or self-organize, possibly even forming hierarchies. The overall alignment of the local structures can be additionally improved by electric or magnetic fields, by flow, or by patterned surfaces.

To illustrate recognition-driven supramolecule formation in polymers and the subsequent self organization and preparation of functional materials and nano-objects, we focus on the comb shaped architecture encouraged by the enhanced solubility of so-called hairy-rod polymers. The simplest case is a flexible polymer having bonding sites along its backbone. Therefore, the backbone is typically polar, and repulsive nonpolar side groups can be connected by complementary bonds, leading to combshaped supramolecules, which in turn selforganize. ............