Novel liquid crystalline brush-like block copolymers bearing norbornene backbone based block copolymers are designed as templates for nanomaterials and destined for functional nanomaterial applications. By harnessing the rich spectrum of structure/morphology properties and the wide selection of pendant side chains, these materials have promising applications in electro-optical materials for photovoltaics and photonics, catalysis and sensing and as precursors for nanoporous materials. ROMP of norbornene based monomers results in better control of molecular weight (low PDI) of the polymers. By using cyanobiphenyl moiety, thermal, electrical and magnetic field alignment can be achieved while selective removal of PLA creates a platform for nanoporous materials. The composition, careful selection of monomers and search for suitable morphologies provides an excellent platform to obtain materials that will find interesting applications as mentioned above.Transitioning from diblock copolymers to triblock copolymers (terpolymers) is sure to increase the morphological spectrum and discovery of new and novel applications is bound to increase. We have recently shown that we can genarate functionalized nanoporous membranes by synthesizing triblock copolymers and crosslinking them to improve their mechanical robustness. The functional groups on the pores are shown to be chemically accessible as evidenced by spectroscopic techniques and subjecting the membranes to the uptake of arsenate ions as a model application.

Novel ordered functional liquid crystalline brush-like block copolymers as precursors for functional nanomaterials

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.