In-depth characterization of self-healing polymers based on π-π interactions

Josefine Meurer; Julian Hniopek; Johannes Ahner; Michael Schmitt; Jürgen Popp; Stefan Zechel; Kalina Peneva; Martin D Hager

doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.166

In-depth characterization of self-healing polymers based on π-π interactions

Beilstein J Org Chem. 2021 Sep 29:17:2496-2504. doi: 10.3762/bjoc.17.166. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Josefine Meurer^#^{1

2}, Julian Hniopek^#^{3

4

5}, Johannes Ahner^{1

2}, Michael Schmitt^{3

4}, Jürgen Popp^{3

4

5}, Stefan Zechel^{1

2}, Kalina Peneva^{1

2}, Martin D Hager^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldstr. 10, 07743 Jena, Germany.
² Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
³ Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany.
⁴ Abbe Center of Photonics (ACP), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Straße 6, 07745 Jena, Germany.
⁵ Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), e. V. Jena, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

The self-healing behavior of two supramolecular polymers based on π-π-interactions featuring different polymer backbones is presented. For this purpose, these polymers were synthesized utilizing a polycondensation of a perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride with polyether-based diamines and the resulting materials were investigated using various analytical techniques. Thus, the molecular structure of the polymers could be correlated with the ability for self-healing. Moreover, the mechanical behavior was studied using rheology. The activation of the supramolecular interactions results in a breaking of these noncovalent bonds, which was investigated using IR spectroscopy, leading to a sufficient increase in mobility and, finally, a healing of the mechanical damage. This scratch-healing behavior was also quantified in detail using an indenter.

Keywords: characterization of polymers; self-healing polymers; supramolecular polymers; π–π-interactions.

Grants and funding

The authors would like to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, HA606/7-1 and 36459901 – Collaborative Research Center (CRC) “CataLight” (Transregio SFB TRR 234, Projektnummer 364549901, projects A3, C2) and the Carl-Zeiss foundation (Perspektiven 2019) for financial support.