Network Formation in an Orthogonally Self-Assembling System

Tristan Mes; Marcel M E Koenigs; Vincent F Scalfani; Travis S Bailey; E W Meijer; Anja R A Palmans

doi:10.1021/mz200108a

Network Formation in an Orthogonally Self-Assembling System

ACS Macro Lett. 2012 Jan 17;1(1):105-109. doi: 10.1021/mz200108a. Epub 2011 Nov 22.

Authors

Tristan Mes¹, Marcel M E Koenigs¹, Vincent F Scalfani², Travis S Bailey², E W Meijer¹, Anja R A Palmans¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
² Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States.

PMID: 35578463
DOI: 10.1021/mz200108a

Abstract

Many supramolecular motifs self-assemble into nanorods, forming the basis of the mechanical properties of supramolecular polymers. When integrated as end-caps in a bifunctional telechelic polymer, the motifs can phase segregate into the same or into another nanorod. In the latter case, a functional cross-link is formed by the bridging chain that strengthens the polymer network. This study introduces a supramolecular polymeric system that consists of two different nanorod forming supramolecular motifs. When end-capped to monofunctional polymers, these supramolecular motifs self-assemble in an orthogonal fashion in two separate types of noncross-linked nanorods, resulting in a viscous liquid lacking macroscopic properties. The addition of 15 mol % of an α,ω-telechelic polymer containing both supramolecular motifs, each on one end, transforms this viscous sticky liquid to a solid material with elastomeric properties due to network formation between the two types of nanorods.