Self-Organization of Hairy-Rod Polymers

Self-Organization on Multiple Length Scales in "Hairy Rod"-Coil Block Copolymer Supramolecular Complexes

The last two decades have seen an explosion of research activity in the area of self-assembled polymeric and supramolecular materials. Self-assembly schemes rely on an often delicate balance between competing repulsive and attractive forces between structural elements. In traditional coil-coil block copolymers, microphase separated structures are dictated by the balance of immiscibility between...

Poly(iminomethylenes): Rigid Rod Helical Polymers

Rod to coil transitions in nematic polymers

We calculate the order parameter and anisotropy (elongation) of the configurations of a nematic polymer in the nematic phase. At low temperatures we find exponentially rapid growth of chain dimensions as a function of inverse temperature. In the nematic direction the chain eventually adopts a rod-like state. The thermal activation of hairpins (abrupt reversals in chain directions) causes this b...

Poly(iminomethylenes): Rigid Rod Helical Polymers

Poly(iminomethylenes): Rigid Rod Helical Polymers