Synthesis and Phase Behavior of (Semifluorinated Alkane)‐Based Side‐Chain Liquid Crystalline Copolymers

Side‐chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP) usually contains a simple and flexible homopolymer as main chain, while its effect on the self‐assembly behavior is often ignored. In this work, in order to increase the structural complexity and investigate the interaction between the main chain and mes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecular rapid communications. 2022-10, Vol.43 (19), p.e2200266-n/a
Main Authors: He, Enjie, Tu, Kai, Cheng, Jiannan, Wang, Yuxue, Lu, Huanjun, Zhang, Lifen, Cheng, Zhenping
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addition polymerization
Alkanes
Benzoates
Benzoic acid
Complexity
condensation polymerization
Copolymers
Crystal structure
Crystallinity
fluorocarbon chains
Liquid crystal polymers
Liquid crystals
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology
nematic phase
Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances
Polymers
Segments
side‐chain liquid crystalline polymers
smectic phase
Spacers
Termination (polymerization)
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Summary:Side‐chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP) usually contains a simple and flexible homopolymer as main chain, while its effect on the self‐assembly behavior is often ignored. In this work, in order to increase the structural complexity and investigate the interaction between the main chain and mesogens, perfluorinated segments are introduced into the main chain using a photoinduced Step Transfer‐Addition & Radical‐Termination polymerization method, producing a novel series of SCLCPs containing 4‐methoxyphenyl benzoate mesogens, soft hydrocarbon spacers, and a strictly alternating perfluoroalkyl and alkyl backbone. By adjusting the length of spacers or perfluoroalkyl segments, several mesophases with complex chain packing structures are achieved. This design strategy that constructing highly ordered liquid crystalline (LC) structures from SCLCPs with precise chemical structure provides a facile way toward novel LC nanomaterials. A series of side‐chain liquid crystalline copolymers with an alternating hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon main chain are synthesized by Step Transfer‐Addition & Radical‐Termination polymerization. Several novel and interesting liquid crystalline (LC) structures, including nematic, smectic, and a possible 3D tetragonal LC phase, are formed by these copolymers, revealing the essentiality of fluorocarbon segment, as well as main‐chain structure, in obtaining complex LC phases.
ISSN:1022-1336
1521-3927
DOI:10.1002/marc.202200266