Conversion of Supramolecular Clusters to Macromolecular Objects
Eugene R. Zubarev,
Martin U. Pralle,
Leiming Li,
Samuel I. Stupp
*
In a reaction proceeding within a nanoscopic volume, supramolecular
clusters were transformed to polymer objects while retaining their
shape and size. Spatial isolation of the cross-linkable blocks of
oligobutadiene that were involved in this stitching reaction was
achieved by self-assembly of the molecules that made up the clusters.
Thermal activation of cross-linking yielded macromolecules (molecular
weight of 70,000) with a narrow size distribution that was similar to
that of the supramolecular clusters. The macromolecules obtained have
an anisotropic shape (2 nanometers by 8 nanometers), as determined by
electron microscopy and small-angle x-ray scattering, and form
materials that exhibit a liquid crystalline state.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of
Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: s-stupp{at}nwu.edu
Present address: Department of Materials Science and
Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
