Photodynamic Control of the Chain Length in Supramolecular Polymers: Switching an Intercalator into a Chain Capper
Elisabeth Weyandt, Gijs M. ter Huurne, Ghislaine Vantomme, Albert J. Markvoort, Anja R. A. Palmans, E. W. Meijer
Abstract
. Moreover, the model was used to predict the impact of an additive (chain capper and intercalator) on the chain length over a range of concentrations, showing a remarkable amplification of efficiency at high concentrations. By employing a stimuli-responsive comonomer in a mostly inert polymer, we can cooperatively amplify the effect of the switching and obtain photocontrol of polymer length. Moreover, this dynamic decrease in chain length causes a macroscopic gel-to-sol phase transformation of the copolymer gel, although 99.4% of the organogel is inert to the light stimulus.
Topics & Concepts
ComonomerChemistrySupramolecular chemistryPolymerCopolymerMonomerPolymerizationSupramolecular polymersPhotoisomerizationPolymer chemistryCrystallographyIsomerizationOrganic chemistryCrystal structureCatalysisSupramolecular Self-Assembly in MaterialsPhotochromic and Fluorescence ChemistryPolydiacetylene-based materials and applications