Tunable Supramolecular Hexagonal Columnar Structures of Hydrogen-Bonded Copolymers Containing Two Different Sized Dendritic Side Chains

Simulation Study of Process-Controlled Supramolecular Block Copolymer Phase Separation with Reversible Reaction Algorithm

A supramolecular diblock copolymer formed by reversible bonds between the two blocks shows a rich microphase separation behavior and has great application potential in stimuli-responsive materials. We propose a novel method to describe supramolecular reactions in dissipative particle dynamics, which includes a reversible reaction to accurately reproduce the strength, saturation, and dynamic properties of the reversible bonds in the simulations. The thermodynamic properties and dynamic processes of the supramolecular diblock copolymer melts in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium states were studied using this method. The simulation results show that the method can faithfully characterize phase behaviors and dynamic properties of supramolecular diblock copolymer melts, especially in a non-equilibrium state, which provides a novel tool to unveil self-assembly mechanism and describe the properties of supramolecular block copolymers.

Stimuli-responsive luminescent supramolecular polymers based on hydrogen bonding: molecular fabrication, phase structure, and controllable-rewritable behavior

Stimuli-responsive luminescent supramolecular polymers were synthesized via hydrogen bonding, which could be further used to build controllable, rewritable paper.

Recyclable heat-resisting polymer poly(ether azaindole ketone)-H+via hydrogen bonding crosslinking

A novel recyclable hydrogen bonding crosslinked polymer PEAINKH⁺ was prepared, which possesses outstanding thermal stability.

Stronger Intermolecular Forces or Closer Molecular Spacing? Key Impact Factor Research of Gelator Self-Assembly Mechanism

The benzene ring of low-molecular-weight gelators provides strong intermolecular forces but increases molecular spacing during self-assembly. To explore both of the above influences on the gel properties, we synthesize two gelators (Glu-CBZ and Glu-DPA) consisting of the same terminal long side chain but different aliphatic functional groups. The aliphatic functional groups are carbobenzoxy group and diphenyl phosphate group. The self-assembly driving forces, self-organization patterns, network morphologies, rheological properties, and the influences of solvents are researched through ¹H NMR spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field-emission scanning electron microscopy images, rheological characterizations curves, tube-inversion experiment, and calculation of van't Hoff plots. The results show that the carbobenzoxy group of Glu-CBZ makes molecules pack more tightly such that it improves the gel properties during static equilibrium. Whereas the diphenyl phosphate group of Glu-DPA provides stronger intermolecular forces, performing outstandingly during dynamic equilibrium. It is advantageous to further investigate the competitive relationship in gel system between the increased number of functional groups and the consequent steric effect.

Construction of Supramolecular Nanostructures from V-Shaped Amphiphilic Rod-Coil Molecules Incorporating Phenazine Units

A series of bent-shaped molecules, consisting of dibenzo[a,c]phenazine and phenyl groups connected together as a rod segment, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 6 as the coil segment, were synthesized. The self-assembling behavior of these molecules by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal optical polarized microscopy (POM), small-angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy (SAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealed that carboxyl or butoxy carbonyl groups at the 11 position of dibenzo[a,c]phenazine noticeably influence self-organization of molecules into supramolecular aggregates in bulk and aqueous solutions. Molecules 1 and 2 with chiral or non-chiral PEO coil chains and the carboxyl group at the rod segments self-organize into a hexagonal perforated lamellar structure and a hexagonal columnar structure in the solid state. In aqueous solution, molecules 1 and 2 self-assemble into diverse lengths of nanofibers, whereas molecules 3 and 4 with butoxy carbonyl groups exhibit a self-organizing capacity to form diverse sizes of spherical aggregates.