ma401033w_si_001.pdf (3.25 MB)
Thermally Controlled Morphologies in a Block Copolymer Supramolecule via Nonreversible Order–Order Transitions
journal contribution
posted on 2013-07-23, 00:00 authored by Peter Bai, Myung Im Kim, Ting XuBlock copolymer (BCP)-based supramolecules
represent a versatile
platform to generate functional nanostructures without the need for
complex synthesis. The noncovalent bonding between the BCP and small
molecules further opens opportunities to access thermal responsive
assemblies. A BCP supramolecule containing cholesteric liquid crystal
(LC) small molecules is observed to undergo thermally induced, nonreversible
order–order transitions (OOTs), resulting in several well-defined
morphologies readily tunable by annealing temperature. The nonreversible
OOTs highlight the importance of small molecule phase transitions
and intermolecular interactions on the overall phase behavior of the
supramolecule. The present system also provides a route to manipulate
local nanostructures via heating.