Tuning the size of supramolecular single‐chain polymer nanoparticles

In this article we further investigate our recently devised method for folding polymer chains into nanoparticles using intramolecular, supramolecular interactions. Specifically, we show a direct relationship between molecular weight of the parent chain and size of the folded nanoparticle. This is investigated both analytically via the separation and subsequent characterization of a polydisperse nanoparticle sample into high and low molecular weight fractions, and by examining a family of poly(norbornenes) deliberately prepared with varying molecular weights. With these polymer nanoparticles in hand their assembly on surfaces is studied where larger structures are formed as a result of the interplay between the movement of the nanoparticles on the surface and the evaporation of solvent. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Polybenzobisimidazole‐derived two‐dimensional supramolecular polymer

We report a novel crystalline supramolecular polybenzobisimidazole (SP‐PBBI) capable of providing a two‐dimensional polymer (2DSP‐PBBI) by liquid‐phase exfoliation. A regular arrangement of rigid rod‐like polybenzobisimidazole (PBBI) chains is achieved by interchain hydrogen bonding. Titration of 2DSP‐PBBI with cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) using UV‐Vis spectroscopy demonstrates the presence of bidentate NO ligands on the PBBI backbone and NO–Co(II) complexation. Imaging analysis using atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals the planar surface morphology of exfoliated 2DSP‐PBBI sheets with lateral dimensions of <1 μm and thickness of <30 nm. The size of the polymer crystal growth is tuned by employing condensation/precipitation polymerization under nonisothermal conditions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1095–1101     

Synthesis and applications of a novel supramolecular polymer network with multiple H‐bonded melamine pendants and uracil crosslinkers

A conjugated main‐chain copolymer ( PBT ) consisting of bithiazole, dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrroles (DTP), and pendent melamine units was synthesized by Stille polymerization, which can be hydrogen‐bonded (H‐bonded) with proper molar amounts of bi‐functional π‐conjugated crosslinker F (i.e., two uracil motifs covalently attached to a fluorene core through triple bonds symmetrically) to develop a novel supramolecular polymer network ( PBT/F ). The effects of multiple H‐bonds on light harvesting capabilities, HOMO levels, and photovoltaic properties of polymer PBT and H‐bonded polymer network PBT/F are investigated. The formation of supramolecular polymer network ( PBT/F ) between PBT and F was confirmed by FTIR and XRD measurements. Because of the stronger light absorption, lower HOMO level, and higher crystallinity of H‐bonded polymer network PBT/F , the solar cell device containing PBT/F showed better photovoltaic properties than that containing polymer PBT . The preliminary results show that the solar cell device containing 1:1 weight ratio of PBT/F and [6,6]‐phenyl C₇₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) offers the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 0.86% with a short‐circuit current density (J_sc) of 4.97 mA/cm², an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.55 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 31.5%. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Metallo‐supramolecular Crosslinked Polyurethanes

The effects of incorporating metal‐binding ligands as chain extenders in polyurethane elastomers were investigated. Segmented polyurethanes based on 2 kDa poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) and 4,4‐methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) were polymerized using a two‐step process in which 2,6‐bis(1‐ethyl‐5‐(methoxymethyl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)pyridine was added as a chain extender. The resulting polyurethanes were then metallated using stoichiometric amounts of Zn(II) metal salts with different counterions. The resulting metallopolymers have substantially improved Young's moduli, increased failure stress, and improved thermomechanical behavior. The materials were microphase‐separated into anisotropic hard domains within a PTMO matrix. Simultaneous small‐angle X‐ray scattering and tensile testing revealed the minority hard segment domains remain relatively intact during elongation, likely due to the strength of the metal–ligand complex. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1744–1757     

位于三维超分子网格的螺旋孔道中的螺旋水链（英文）

以偶氮苯-3,5,4′-三羧酸(H3abt)为配体,在水热条件下合成了一个新颖的配合物[Co(H2abt)2(H2O)4]·H2O(1),并通过元素分析、红外光谱、热重分析和X射线单晶衍射对其结构进行了表征.结构分析显示,配合物1具有含螺旋孔道的三维超分子网格结构,两种手性的螺旋水链通过配位作用和氢键固定于螺旋孔道中.     

Viscoelastic properties of supramolecular soft materials with transient polymer network

A series of supramolecular soft materials with hydrogen bonded transient networks was prepared by blending carboxy‐terminated telechelic poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA‐(COOH)₂) and polyethyleneimine (PEI). Effects of PEA‐(COOH)₂ molecular weight (M_PEA) and the blend ratio on the viscoelastic properties were investigated by rheological and small angle X‐ray scattering measurements. Rubbery plateau appeared by adding PEI due to network formation with ionic hydrogen bonded crosslinks between amines on PEI and carboxylic acids on PEA‐(COOH)₂. The highest temperature of a storage modulus‐loss modulus crossover as well as the highest flow activation energy was attained at a certain mole ratio of amines to carboxylic acids, irrelevant to M_PEA, indicating optimized supramolecular networks were achieved by stoichiometric balance of two functional groups. Since telechelic PEA‐(COOH)₂ serves as a network strand, the plateau modulus was inversely proportional to M_PEA, which was consistent with the correlation length between crosslinks estimated by X‐ray scattering measurements. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 755–764     

Supramolecular polymer gels formed from carboxy‐terminated telechelic polybutadiene and polyamidine through amidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge

In this article, we report the preparation and properties of the bulk supramolecular polymer gels prepared from a polybutadiene based on the amidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge, highlighting the difference from a well‐established network system based on carboxylic acid and amine. We have prepared the amidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge‐based supramolecular polymer gels from a carboxy‐terminated telechelic polybutadiene and a linear polyamidine having N,N′‐di‐substituted acetamidine group in the main chain. FTIR analysis along with Small angle X‐ray scattering measurements indicated that the salt bridge was attributed to the gelation through three‐dimensional network formation. Virtually no fluidity was observed for the supramolecular gel containing equimolar amounts of the carboxyl group and the amidine group, which showed a high G′ value of about 1 MPa at room temperature and a T_gel of 37 °C. For comparison, the supramolecular polymer gels crosslinked by ammonium‐carboxylate salt were prepared using a linear polyethyleneimine instead of the polyamidine. The gel with equimolar amounts of the carboxyl group and the secondary amino group showed liquid‐like fluidity with a G′ value of about 0.01 MPa at room temperature, which was attributed to the fact that a certain amount of the carboxyl group remained as its free form without salt formation, as evidenced by FTIR analysis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1815–1824     

Side‐chain supramolecular polymers with induced supramolecular chirality through H‐bonding interactions

Side‐chain supramolecular polymers that show columnar mesomorphism have been prepared through H‐bonding interactions between a polyvinylpyridine polymer as H‐acceptor and different H‐donors derived from benzoic acid. These compounds have been designed according to a promesogenic structure, that is, either disk‐like or banana‐like, to promote stacking and therefore the formation of columnar arrangements. IR studies confirmed the formation of H‐bonds and demonstrated that the H‐bond intensity decreases upon increasing temperature. The mesophase organizations were studied by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. Associations containing poly‐3‐methyl‐4‐vinylpyridine showed supramolecular optical activity, as evidenced by circular dichroism studies on thin films. It is proposed that these supramolecular polymers adopt a helical structure that can be biased toward a given handedness by virtue of the configuration of the stereogenic centers in the peripheral tails of the acids. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5528–5541, 2008     

Dynamics of supramolecular associative polymer networks at the interplay of chain entanglement,transient chain association,and chain‐sticker clustering

The dynamic mechanical properties of supramolecular associative polymer networks depend on the average number of entanglements along the network‐forming chains, N_e, and on their content of associative groups, f . In addition, there may be further influence by aggregation of the associative groups into clusters, which, in turn, is influenced by the chemical structure of these groups, and again by N_e and f of the polymer. Therefore, the effects of these parameters are interdependent. To conceptually understand this interdependency, we study model networks in which (a) N_e, (b) f , and (c) the chemical structure of the associative groups are varied systematically. Each network is probed by rheology. The clustering of the associative groups is assessed by analyzing the rheological data at the end range of frequency covered and by comparison of the number of supramolecular network junctions with the maximum possible number of binary transient bonds. We find that if the total number of the network junctions, which can be formed either by interchain entanglement or by interchain transient associations, is greater than a threshold of 13, then the likelihood of cluster formation is high and the dynamics of supramolecular associative polymer networks is mainly controlled by this phenomenon. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1209–1223     

Dielectric studies of chain dynamics in homogeneous semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) were prepared from linear polyurethane (PUR) and polycyanurate (PCN) networks. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements showed that the IPNs were amorphous, and differential scanning calorimetry and small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements suggested that they were macroscopically homogeneous. Here we report the results of detailed studies of the molecular mobility in IPNs with PUR contents greater than or equal to 50% via broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (10⁻²–10⁹ Hz, 210–420 K) and thermally stimulated depolarization current techniques (77–320 K). Both techniques gave a single α relaxation in the IPNs, shifting to higher temperatures in isochronal plots with increasing PCN content, and provided measures for the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) close to and following the calorimetric T_g. The dielectric response in the IPNs was dominated by PUR. The segmental α relaxation, associated with the glass transition and, to a lesser extent, the local secondary β and γ relaxations were analyzed in detail with respect to the timescale, the shape of the response, and the relaxation strength. The α relaxation became broader with increasing PCN content, the broadening being attributed to concentration fluctuations. Fragility decreased in the IPNs in comparison with PUR, the kinetic free volume at T_g increased, and the relaxation strength of the α relaxation, normalized to the same PUR content, increased. The results are discussed in terms of the formation of chemical bonds between the components, as confirmed by IR, and the reduced packing density of PUR chains in the IPNs. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 3070–3087, 2000     

Melamine driven supramolecular self‐assembly of nucleobase derivatives in water

Water‐soluble supramolecular polymers, especially made up of biomolecules, are ideally suited to build new biomaterials that can mimic or interact with dynamic, biological environments. Here, two derivatives from thymine (T), that is N‐[2‐(3,4‐Dihydro‐5‐methyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1(2H)‐pyrimidinyl)acetyl]‐L‐phenylalanine (T‐phe) and N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)‐3,4‐dihydro‐5‐methyl‐2,4‐dioxo‐1(2H)‐pyrimidineacetamide (T‐NH₂) were synthesized. Then the optimal condition for self‐assembly of T‐phe and T‐NH₂ driven by melamine (M) was explored. It was observed that M/T kept at 1:3 with equivalent T‐phe and T‐NH₂ under neutral environment resulted in long fibers (>1 μm) with extremely high aspect ratios, which suggested that electrostatic and π‐stacking interactions could be effectively orchestrated by hydrogen bonds to direct the hierarchical assembly. Furthermore, hydrogels were spontaneously generated with a concentrated solution of T‐phe, T‐NH₂, and M due to the fibril entanglement. Given its biomimetic nature and efficient self‐assembly process, this newly developed supramolecular polymer stacked by tetrameric structures represented an innovative concept and pathway for novel bio‐inspired materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 789–796     

Organogelation by polymer organogelators with a L-lysine derivative: formation of a three-dimensional network consisting of supramolecular and conventional polymers

Polymer compounds consisting of a L-lysine derivative and conventional polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol), polycarbonate, polyesters, and poly(alkylene), have been synthesized and their organogelation properties examined in various solvents. These polymer compounds function as good organogelators that form organogels in many organic solvents and oils. The organogelation ability is almost independent of the polymer backbone. Observation by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) demonstrates that the polymer organogelators form a supramolecular polymer with a diameter of several tens of nanometers and create a three-dimensional network in organogels. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis shows that the supramolecular polymer is mainly formed by the self-assembly of L-lysine segments through hydrogen-bonding and van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, the organogels formed by the polymer organogelators have a lower gel-sol temperature and higher gel strength than those of a low-molecular-weight model organogelator.     

A Novel Silver（Ⅰ）σ -Complex Supramolecular Polymer： [Ag2（o-HOPhCO2）2]n

The hydrothermal reactions of sodium o‐hydroxybenzoate with AgNO₃ yield a novel stable Ag(I) s?‐complex supramolecular polymer, [Ag₂(o‐HOPhCO₂)₂]_n. The structure of [Ag₂(o‐HOPhCO₂)₂] was solved by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. It is monoclinic with space group P2Jc and unit cell parameters a=0.7394(2) nm, b= 0.8822(2) nm, c=1.0662(2) nm, β= 107.66(3)°, Z=4. The silver(I) atom is two‐coordinated by two carboxylic oxygen atoms of two o‐hydroxybenzoate ligands, and meanwhile, forms supramolecular interaction with one carbon atom of phenyl‐ring in the third o‐hydroxybenzoate group. The a‐form Ag…C supramolecular bond bridges [Ag₂(o‐HOPhCO₂)₂] units into an infinite 2D layered polymer [Ag₂(o‐HOPhCO₂)₂]_n. The coordination sphere of the silver atom is best described as a distorted T‐shaped geometry.     

Controlling supramolecular polymerization through multicomponent self‐assembly

The self‐assembly into supramolecular polymers is a process driven by reversible non‐covalent interactions between monomers, and gives access to materials applications incorporating mechanical, biological, optical or electronic functionalities. Compared to the achievements in precision polymer synthesis via living and controlled covalent polymerization processes, supramolecular chemists have only just learned how to developed strategies that allow similar control over polymer length, (co)monomer sequence and morphology (random, alternating or blocked ordering). This highlight article discusses the unique opportunities that arise when coassembling multicomponent supramolecular polymers, and focusses on four strategies in order to control the polymer architecture, size, stability and its stimuli‐responsive properties: (1) end‐capping of supramolecular polymers, (2) biomimetic templated polymerization, (3) controlled selectivity and reactivity in supramolecular copolymerization, and (4) living supramolecular polymerization. In contrast to the traditional focus on equilibrium systems, our emphasis is also on the manipulation of self‐assembly kinetics of synthetic supramolecular systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 34–78     

Synthesis and optical properties of organic–inorganic hybrid semi‐interpenetrating polymer network gels containing polyfluorenes

Organic–inorganic hybrid semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) gels containing polyfluorenes (PFs) are synthesized by hydrosilylation reaction of joint and rod molecules in toluene, where PFs are poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) (PF6) or, poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl) (PF8), joint molecules are 1,3,5,7‐tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), or 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15‐octakis(dimethylsilyloxy)pentacyclo‐[9,5,1,1,1,1]octasilsesquioxane (POSS), and rod molecules are 1,5‐hexadiene (HD) or 1,9‐decadiene (DD). The semi‐IPN gels containing low molecular weight PF6 show higher photoluminescence efficiency (?_g) than the toluene solution of PF6L (?_s). The semi‐IPN gels composed of long rod molecule of DD and cubic joint molecule of POSS show the most effective increase in the emission intensity. The emission intensity of PF6L increases as formation of the network in the POSS‐DD semi‐IPN gel. The POSS‐DD semi‐IPN gels containing high molecular weight PF6 and PF8 also show the increase of emission intensity than those of the toluene solutions. The semi‐IPN synthesized in cyclohexane show syneresis and phase separation between network structure and PF chains. The semi‐IPN gels containing PF8 show emission peaks at 450 and 470 nm derived from β‐sheet structure of PF8. A systematic study clears correlation between emission property and network structure and/or composition of semi‐IPN gels. The semi‐IPN gels provide emissive self‐standing soft materials with high efficiency and in a narrow wavelength range emission. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 973–984     

Unusual dynamics of ring probes in linear matrices

We perform Monte Carlo simulations of ring and linear polymers in linear matrices, and investigate the diffusivity of the probes. As the matrix chain length N_m is increased from 10 to 300 monomers, the diffusivity D_l of a linear probe (N_l = 300) decreases monotonically, while that of a ring probe D_r varies non‐monotonically, with a peak around . We perform additional simulations with a single probe molecule ( ) in a linear matrix ( ). The non‐monotonicity in D_r persists even after ring–ring interactions are eliminated. Topology dependent differences in the short‐time dynamics of the probes are observed; unlike linear probes, mean‐squared displacements of ring probes depend on N_m. Primitive path analysis suggests that the difference in dynamics originates from differences in entanglement structure. For linear probes, the degree of entanglement is independent of N_m. For ring probes, we observe two regimes: when N_m is small, the number of threadings decreases as N_m increases, eventually transitioning to a plateau. In the small N_m regime, the change in the degree of entanglement offsets the change in the mobility of the matrix chains, leading to a non‐monotonic variation in D_r. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 169–177     

Metal‐directed supramolecular architectures based on the bifunctional ligand 2,5‐bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)terephthalic acid

By the solvothermal reactions of 2,5‐bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)terephthalic acid (H₂L) with transition‐metal ions, two novel polymeric complexes, namely, poly[diaqua[μ₄‐2,5‐bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)terephthalato]cobalt(II)], [Co(C₁₂H₆N₆O₄)(H₂O)₂]_n, ( 1 ), and poly[[diaqua[μ₄‐2,5‐bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)terephthalato]nickel(II)] dihydrate], {[Ni(C₁₂H₆N₆O₄)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n, ( 2 ), were isolated. Both polymers have been characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The complexes have similar two‐dimensional layered structures and coordination modes. Furthermore, the two‐dimensional layered structures bear distinct intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions and π–π stacking interactions to form two different three‐dimensional supramolecular networks based on 4⁴‐subnets. The structural variation depends on the nature of the metal cations. The results of variable‐temperature magnetization measurements (χ_MT?T and χ_M^?1?T) show that complexes ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) display antiferromagnetic behaviour.     

A Homotelechelic bis‐terpyridine macroligand: One‐step synthesis and its metallo‐supramolecular self‐assembly

A homotelechelic macroligand bearing two 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridin‐4′‐yl units, as chain ends, is used as building block for the preparation of a linear metallo‐supramolecular chain‐extended polymer. The macroligand has been prepared by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) of styrene using a bis‐terpyridine‐functionalized NMP initiator. The controlled character of the NMP process has been confirmed by detailed characterization of the polymer by size‐exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. Subsequently, the self‐assembly with Fe^II ions into the chain‐extended metallopolymer and the disassembly thereof, in the presence of a strong competitive ligand, has been studied by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy. The reversibility of the formation of the metallo‐supramolecular material, when addressed by external stimuli, could be proven. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

The influence of the polymer chain stiffness on tracer diffusion in polymeric matrices

The diffusion of penetrants in polymers is of technological importance in many areas including chromatography and fuel cell membranes. In this work, the effect of chain conformations on tracer diffusion is studied using molecular simulations and a percolation theory. The polymeric matrix is composed of tangent hard sphere chains that are fixed in space; conformations are changed by tuning the stiffness of the chains. The tracer diffusion coefficient is relatively insensitive to the chain stiffness when polymer chains are frozen as in polymer glasses with the local chain dynamics switched off. An analysis of the matrix using percolation theory shows that the polymer volume fraction at the free volume percolation threshold is also relatively insensitive to the chain stiffness, consistent with the diffusion results. This is surprising because the site‐site intermolecular pair correlation functions in the matrix are quite sensitive to the chain stiffness. In contrast, the tracer diffusion coefficient in a melt of mobile chains decreases significantly as the chain stiffness is increased. We conclude that tracer diffusion is only weakly correlated with the chain conformations and local chain dynamics plays an important role. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011