The design and synthesis of �smart� macromolecules that respond to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, applied potential etc. remains an area of interest for biological and engineering applications. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is capable of affording macromolecules with controlled architectures leading to tailored range of response to external stimuli. For example, mechanical deformation under applied voltage in electromechanical transducers; serve as potential energy harvesting devices, biomimetic materials, and sensors. Nafion� serves as a benchmark material and it's microphase separated morphology assists in providing superior performance as an electromechanical transducer. Microphase separated block copolymers synthesized using RAFT present a facile strategy to mimic morphology of Nafion�. Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/241nm/uploads/78273_figure_as_acs1.jpg' alt='' />Control over block composition enables tailored charge content, tune thermomechanical properties, and morphology. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) determined ion-transport properties of charged ABA triblock copolymers with different compositions. This presentation will introduce the efforts with imidazolium-containing triblock copolymers that offer the opportunity to fine tune mechanical and ion-transport properties of an electroactive device.

Imidazole-containing ABA triblock copolymers containing a synergy of ether and imidazolium sites

248th National Meeting (2014)

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