characterizations are carried out to gain understanding of polymer structure,
hierarchical self-assembly, and PEG crystallization. In order to get more insights
on the role of PEG topology in different architectures, LCBBCs are compared
with previously reported linear counterparts. LCBBC architecture presents a
strong case to obtain magnetically aligned amorphous PEG domains in the LC
major matrix for anisotropic ion transport (Li
+
) to develop electrochemical
devices and batteries. Furthermore, norbornene backbones can be UV crosslinked in aligned states by using thiol-ene chemistry to attain robust platform
with amorphous PEG domains for the ion transport to envision solid-state
electrolyte membranes.
Keywords
Liquid crystalline brushlike block copolymers (LCBBCs) · Hierarchical
assembly · Topology · PEG crystallization · Ion transport membranes
Definition
Liquid crystalline polymers: Polymers having liquid crystalline moieties either in the
backbone or attached as side chains to the polymer backbone. Liquid crystalline
moieties form ordered structures within the polymer matrix, and this order can be
controlled by outside stimuli such as heat, light, electric filed, and magnetic field.
Liquid crystalline brushlike block copolymers (LCBBCs): Architecture combining liquid crystalline (LC) side chains in one block and brushlike semicrystalline
polymer side chains in another block to obtain vital characteristics of both
components.
Introduction
Side chain liquid crystalline block copolymers (LCBCPs) are known to form
hierarchical structures, that is, block copolymer microphase separation (e.g., spheres,
cylinders, or lamellae) at around 10–100 nm length scale with LC ordering confined
within microsegregated domains (Mao and Ober 1997; Schneider et al. 2000;
Hamley et al. 2004; Hammond and Mezzenga 2008; Verploegen et al. 2008; Tenneti
et al. 2008, 2009). It can be envisioned that in PEO containing LCBCPs, the
presence of LC structure may strengthen the confinement effect of PEO crystallization because the formation of long-range PEO crystals will need to disrupt the
preformed ordered LC domain (Zhou et al. 2011).
To date, many PEO-based LCBCPs have been prepared (Bae et al. 2005; Yang
et al. 2006; He et al. 2008; Jia et al. 2009; Yu and Kobayashi 2009). The LC phase is
responsive to external electric and magnetic fields, which makes the alignment of the
amorphous PEO domains possible (Tao et al. 2007; Xu et al. 2009). For example,
Gopinadhan et al. (2010) demonstrated a method of aligning LC-PEO BCPs
480
L. Mahajan et al.
hierarchical self-assembly, and PEG crystallization. In order to get more insights
on the role of PEG topology in different architectures, LCBBCs are compared
with previously reported linear counterparts. LCBBC architecture presents a
strong case to obtain magnetically aligned amorphous PEG domains in the LC
major matrix for anisotropic ion transport (Li
+
) to develop electrochemical
devices and batteries. Furthermore, norbornene backbones can be UV crosslinked in aligned states by using thiol-ene chemistry to attain robust platform
with amorphous PEG domains for the ion transport to envision solid-state
electrolyte membranes.
Keywords
Liquid crystalline brushlike block copolymers (LCBBCs) · Hierarchical
assembly · Topology · PEG crystallization · Ion transport membranes
Definition
Liquid crystalline polymers: Polymers having liquid crystalline moieties either in the
backbone or attached as side chains to the polymer backbone. Liquid crystalline
moieties form ordered structures within the polymer matrix, and this order can be
controlled by outside stimuli such as heat, light, electric filed, and magnetic field.
Liquid crystalline brushlike block copolymers (LCBBCs): Architecture combining liquid crystalline (LC) side chains in one block and brushlike semicrystalline
polymer side chains in another block to obtain vital characteristics of both
components.
Introduction
Side chain liquid crystalline block copolymers (LCBCPs) are known to form
hierarchical structures, that is, block copolymer microphase separation (e.g., spheres,
cylinders, or lamellae) at around 10–100 nm length scale with LC ordering confined
within microsegregated domains (Mao and Ober 1997; Schneider et al. 2000;
Hamley et al. 2004; Hammond and Mezzenga 2008; Verploegen et al. 2008; Tenneti
et al. 2008, 2009). It can be envisioned that in PEO containing LCBCPs, the
presence of LC structure may strengthen the confinement effect of PEO crystallization because the formation of long-range PEO crystals will need to disrupt the
preformed ordered LC domain (Zhou et al. 2011).
To date, many PEO-based LCBCPs have been prepared (Bae et al. 2005; Yang
et al. 2006; He et al. 2008; Jia et al. 2009; Yu and Kobayashi 2009). The LC phase is
responsive to external electric and magnetic fields, which makes the alignment of the
amorphous PEO domains possible (Tao et al. 2007; Xu et al. 2009). For example,
Gopinadhan et al. (2010) demonstrated a method of aligning LC-PEO BCPs
480
L. Mahajan et al.