Functional Materials Based on Self-Assembly of Polymeric Supramolecules
Olli Ikkala,1*
Gerrit ten Brinke12*
Self-assembly of polymeric supramolecules is a
powerful tool for producing functional materials that combine several
properties and may respond to external conditions. We illustrate the
concept using a comb-shaped architecture. Examples include the
hexagonal self-organization of conjugated conducting polymers and the
polarized luminance in solid-state films of rodlike polymers obtained
by removing the hydrogen-bonded side chains from the aligned
thermotropic smectic phase. Hierarchically structured materials
obtained by applying different self-organization and recognition
principles and directed assembly form a basis for tunable nanoporous
materials, smart membranes, preparation of nano-objects, and
anisotropic properties, such as proton conductivity.
1 Department of Engineering Physics and
Mathematics and Center for New Materials, Helsinki University of
Technology, Post Office Box 2200, FIN-02015 HUT, Espoo, Finland.
2 Department of Polymer Science and Materials
Science Center, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG
Groningen, Netherlands.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
Olli.Ikkala{at}hut.fi (O.I.); G.ten.Brinke{at}chem.rug.nl
(G.t.B.)
