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Influence of the terminal substituent of azobenzene on the liquid crystalline property of ABA triblock copolymers

  • Xinde Tang*
  • , Longcheng Gao
  • , Nianfeng Han
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Shandong Jiaotong University
  • Peking University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The influence of the terminal substituent of azobenzene on the liquid crystalline property of ABA triblock copolymers was studied. Three kinds of azobenzene-containing monomers with different terminal substituents were respectively used to synthesize ABA triblock copolymers (denoted as PMMAzo 12-PEG13-PMMAzo12, PEMAzo14-PEG 13-PEMAzo14, and PNMAzo14-PEG 13-PNMAzo14) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). These copolymers were characterized with 1H NMR and GPC, and exhibited controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) have shown that these copolymers have mesophases. PMMAzo12-PEG 13-PMMAzo12 has a smectic mesophase and a nematic mesophase, while both PEMAzo14-PEG13-PEMAzo14 and PNMAzo14-PEG13-PNMAzo14 have a nematic mesophase. This demonstrates that the LC properties of these copolymers highly depend on the terminal substituent of azobenzene.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Liquid Crystals
PublisherTrans Tech Publications Ltd
Pages122-125
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)0878492917, 9780878492916
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
Event2009 International Symposium on Liquid Crystal Science and Technology - Kunming, China
Duration: 2 Aug 20095 Aug 2009

Publication series

NameKey Engineering Materials
Volume428-429
ISSN (Print)1013-9826
ISSN (Electronic)1662-9795

Conference

Conference2009 International Symposium on Liquid Crystal Science and Technology
Country/TerritoryChina
CityKunming
Period2/08/095/08/09

Keywords

  • ABA triblock copolymer
  • Atom transfer radical polymerization
  • Azobenzene
  • Liquid crystal

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