Hierarchical and automatic construction of ultrathin polymer nanoarchitecture with islands of alkyl chains for spontaneous interfacial molecular alignment. (12th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: An, Jongil; Choi, Jin-Wook; Son, Seung-Rak; Kim, Soyern; Park, Jisung; Park, Chan Beom; Lee, Jun Hyup
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 232(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-12
• Subjects: Amphiphilic comb-like copolymer -- Molecular alignment -- Ultrathin nanoarchitecture; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Hierarchical ultrathin nanoarchitectures are structurally stable and functionally versatile, which are supramolecular building blocks with a broad range of applications from optoelectronic devices to tunable biosensors. Here, we present a facile and scalable strategy to fabricate an ultrathin polymer nanoarchitecture with islands of alkyl chains for spontaneous interfacial molecular orientation by using the hierarchical and automatic self-assembly of amphiphilic comb-like copolymers. The intriguing self-constructed nanoarchitecture is achieved by facile doping and interfacial self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(dodecyl acrylate)–poly(acrylic acid) comb-like copolymers on hydrophilic indium tin oxide substrate. It is experimentally revealed that an ultrathin and spiky polymer nanoarchitecture with a hydrophobic segment surface formed by hydrophilic and cooperative interactions of amphiphilic copolymers ensures an automatic vertical molecular alignment of liquid crystals during hierarchical self-construction process. Furthermore, this effective approach affords a fast responsive and low-voltage driving polymer nanoarchitecture with an enhanced electro-optical performance compared to common polyimide layer. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A simple and scalable strategy for spontaneous interfacial molecular alignment is presented. The hierarchical and automatic construction of ultrathin polymer nanoarchitecture has been realized. An ultrathin nanoarchitecture with islands of alkyl chains enables the stable and uniform molecular alignment of LCs. The fast switching performance and low power consumption characteristic are achieved.