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Orientational Switching of Mesogens and Microdomains in Hydrogen‐Bonded Side‐Chain Liquid‐Crystalline Block Copolymers Using AC Electric Fields
Author(s) -
Chao C.Y.,
Li X.,
Ober C. K.,
Osuji C.,
Thomas E. L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200305159
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , electric field , mesogen , chemical physics , side chain , liquid crystal , hydrogen bond , dipole , liquid crystalline , dissociation (chemistry) , hydrogen , crystallography , molecule , composite material , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , polymer , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
In this report, we show that the microstructures of hydrogen‐bonded side‐chain liquid‐crystalline block copolymers can be rapidly aligned in an alternating current (AC) electric field at temperatures below the order–disorder transition but above the glass transition. The structures and their orientation were measured in real time with synchrotron X‐ray scattering. Incorporation of mesogenic groups with marked dipolar properties is a key element in this process. A mechanism related to the dissociation of hydrogen bonds is proposed to account for the fast orientation switching of the hydrogen‐bonded blends.