2D Self-Assembly of an Amido-Ended Hydrophilic Hyperbranched Polyester by Copper Ion Induction

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics 2013-08, Vol.214 (15), p.1724-1733
• Main Authors: Li, Junna, Zhang, Daohong, Li, Shunhai, Xu, Zhicai, Chen, Sufang, Li, Tingcheng, Zhang, Junheng, Chen, Shenghui, Zhang, Aiqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Copper; COPPER IONS; Crystals; CUPRIC IONS; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transforms; Fractal analysis; hyperbranched polymers; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyester resins; POLYESTERS; Properties and characterization; RESINS; Scanning electron microscopy; Self assembly; Solution and gel properties; tree-like structures; Two dimensional
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201300274

The self‐assembly of an amido‐ended hydrophilic hyperbranched polyester (HTDA‐2) into ordered, compact, 2D, tree‐like structures with a diameter of over 500 μm and a trunk‐width of about 3–5 μm by the induction effect of cupric ions is presented. Influencing factors on the morphology of the self‐assemblies, including temperature, time, solvents, concentration, and humidity, investigated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are discussed. The self‐assembly mechanism is analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, and Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy. A dimension (Df) of about 1.50 for the perfect fractal behavior and the crystal behavior of the self‐assemblies are determined. 2D ordered tree‐like self‐assemblies with sizes of over 500 μm and branch widths of about 3–5 μm are obtained by surface self‐assembly of an amido‐ended hydrophilic hyperbranched polyester/copper complex, showing intriguing crystal and fractal behaviors. The self‐assembly process and mechanism are explained by the synergistic action of cupric ion coordination induction, hydrogen bonds, and diffusion‐limited aggregation (DLA) of micelles.