A self-repairing, supramolecular polymer system: healability as a consequence of donor-acceptor pi-pi stacking interactions

Chem Commun (Camb). 2009 Nov 28:(44):6717-9. doi: 10.1039/b910648k. Epub 2009 Sep 9.

Abstract

A novel supramolecular polymer system, in which the terminal pyrenyl groups of a polyamide intercalate into the chain-folds of a polyimide via electronically-complementary pi-pi stacking, shows both enhanced mechanical properties relative to those of its individual components and facile healing characteristics as a result of the thermoreversibility of non-covalent interactions.