Polymer network comprised of steroidal rotors as promising storage material

Abstract

In this paper, we report a new generation of polymeric networks as potential functional material based on changes in molecular dynamics in the solid state. The material is obtained by free radical polymerization of a diacrylate derivative bearing a steroid (stator) and a 1,4-diethynyl-phenylene-d₄ fragment (rotator). Polymer research using the PALS technique complements the knowledge about nanostructural changes occurring in the system in the temperature range -115 °C - +190 °C. It indicates the presence of two types of free nanovolumes in the system and the occurrence of phase transitions. The polymer is characterized using ¹ H NMR, ² H Solid Echo NMR, ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, thermal analysis, and porosimetry. It is proved that the applied procedure leads to the formation of a novel porous organic material containing multiple molecular rotors.

Keywords: molecular dynamics; molecular machines; molecular rotors; organic porous material; polymer network.