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Hydrophobicity Control in Adaptive Crystalline Assemblies
Author(s) -
Cohen Erez,
Soffer Yahel,
Weissman Haim,
Bendikov Tatyana,
Schilt Yaelle,
Raviv Uri,
Rybtchinski Boris
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201801912
Subject(s) - polyethylene glycol , amphiphile , crystallinity , materials science , polymer , peg ratio , amorphous solid , perylene , diimide , chemical engineering , copolymer , superhydrophilicity , polymer chemistry , wetting , molecule , chemistry , organic chemistry , finance , economics , engineering , composite material
Abstract An amphiphile based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer and two molecular moieties (perylene diimide and C 7 fluoroalkyl, PDI and C 7 F) attached to its termini assembles into crystalline films with long‐range order. The films reversibly switch from crystalline to amorphous above the PEG melting temperature. The adaptive behavior stems from the responsiveness of the PEG domain and the robustness of the PDI and C 7 F assemblies. The hydrophobicity of the film can be controlled by heating, resulting in switching from highly hydrophobic to superhydrophilic. The long‐range order, reversible crystallinity switching, and the temperature‐controlled wettability demonstrate the potential of block copolymer analogues based on simple polymeric/molecular hybrids.