Conclusions and Future Directions
In this entry, discotic liquid crystalline polymers have been discussed with a particular focus on their mesomorphic behavior through structural changes of the cores.
The mesomorphism of polymeric DLCs critically depends on the core as well as on
the backbone of the polymer chain and thus plays a key role for further structural
control of these materials. The number of different discotic polymers is still rather
limited, and the field has potential for a strong expansion. These polymers are
promising candidate for the development of new soft materials as they combine
properties of polymers and self-assembling behavior of discotics. The attachment of
discotic mesogens on polymer backbone can be achieved via different methods, like
polymer substitution reaction, free radical polymerization, ring opening metathesis,
etc. By changing the disc shape and its position on the polymer backbone, physical
properties of polymers can be tailored. Their thermal transitions were found to be
very much related to the peripheral lateral chains and the nature of polymer backbone. Again, self-assembling nature of discotic mesogens into columnar phase helps
in unidirectional charge or ion transfer. These unidirectional charge or ion transfer
properties can be potentially used for various applications like catalysts for redox
reactions, organic field-effect transistors, storage in quantum computing, sensors,
micro-robotics, micro-pumps and actuators to solve the energy and health problems.
On the whole, polymeric DLCs open a wide range of possibilities for new soft
materials design for various applications.
Cross-References
▶ Columnar Phase-Forming Polymers
▶ Structure and Assembly of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers
References
Abeysekera R, Bushby RJ, Caillet C, Hamley IW, Lozman OR, Lu Z, Robards AW (2003) Discotic
liquid crystalline triblock copolymers: interplay of liquid crystal architecture with microphase
separation. Macromolecules 36:1526–1533
Bengs H, Finkelmann H, Küpfer J, Ringsdorf H, Schuhmacher P (1993) Highly oriented discotic
elastomers. Makromol Chem Rapid Commun 14:445–450
Bisoyi HK, Kumar S (2008) Carbon nanotubes in triphenylene and rufigallol-based room temperature monomeric and polymeric discotic liquid crystals. J Mater Chem 18:3032–3039
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Cammidge AN (1995) Triphenylene-based discotic-liquid-crystalline polymers: a universal, rational synthesis. J Am Chem Soc 117:924–927
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Lu ZB (1998) A rational synthesis of polyacrylates with discogenic side
groups. Liq Cryst 25:47–58
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Eichhorn H, Lu ZB, Abeysekera R, Robardes AW (1999) Discotic liquid
crystalline block copolymers 2: Main-chain discotic liquid crystalline diblock and triblock
copolymers. Mol Cryst Liq Cryst Sci Technol Sect A 332:293–302
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Cooke G, Lozman OR, Lu Z (2001) CPI: a recipe for improving applicable
properties of discotic liquid crystals. J Am Chem Soc 123:7915–7916
90
S. Setia et al.
In this entry, discotic liquid crystalline polymers have been discussed with a particular focus on their mesomorphic behavior through structural changes of the cores.
The mesomorphism of polymeric DLCs critically depends on the core as well as on
the backbone of the polymer chain and thus plays a key role for further structural
control of these materials. The number of different discotic polymers is still rather
limited, and the field has potential for a strong expansion. These polymers are
promising candidate for the development of new soft materials as they combine
properties of polymers and self-assembling behavior of discotics. The attachment of
discotic mesogens on polymer backbone can be achieved via different methods, like
polymer substitution reaction, free radical polymerization, ring opening metathesis,
etc. By changing the disc shape and its position on the polymer backbone, physical
properties of polymers can be tailored. Their thermal transitions were found to be
very much related to the peripheral lateral chains and the nature of polymer backbone. Again, self-assembling nature of discotic mesogens into columnar phase helps
in unidirectional charge or ion transfer. These unidirectional charge or ion transfer
properties can be potentially used for various applications like catalysts for redox
reactions, organic field-effect transistors, storage in quantum computing, sensors,
micro-robotics, micro-pumps and actuators to solve the energy and health problems.
On the whole, polymeric DLCs open a wide range of possibilities for new soft
materials design for various applications.
Cross-References
▶ Columnar Phase-Forming Polymers
▶ Structure and Assembly of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers
References
Abeysekera R, Bushby RJ, Caillet C, Hamley IW, Lozman OR, Lu Z, Robards AW (2003) Discotic
liquid crystalline triblock copolymers: interplay of liquid crystal architecture with microphase
separation. Macromolecules 36:1526–1533
Bengs H, Finkelmann H, Küpfer J, Ringsdorf H, Schuhmacher P (1993) Highly oriented discotic
elastomers. Makromol Chem Rapid Commun 14:445–450
Bisoyi HK, Kumar S (2008) Carbon nanotubes in triphenylene and rufigallol-based room temperature monomeric and polymeric discotic liquid crystals. J Mater Chem 18:3032–3039
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Cammidge AN (1995) Triphenylene-based discotic-liquid-crystalline polymers: a universal, rational synthesis. J Am Chem Soc 117:924–927
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Lu ZB (1998) A rational synthesis of polyacrylates with discogenic side
groups. Liq Cryst 25:47–58
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Eichhorn H, Lu ZB, Abeysekera R, Robardes AW (1999) Discotic liquid
crystalline block copolymers 2: Main-chain discotic liquid crystalline diblock and triblock
copolymers. Mol Cryst Liq Cryst Sci Technol Sect A 332:293–302
Boden N, Bushby RJ, Cooke G, Lozman OR, Lu Z (2001) CPI: a recipe for improving applicable
properties of discotic liquid crystals. J Am Chem Soc 123:7915–7916
90
S. Setia et al.