DIRECT IMAGING OF SELF-ORGANIZED COMB COPOLYMER-LIKE SYSTEMS OBTAINEDBY HYDROGEN-BONDING - POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE)-4-NONADECYLPHENOL

Comb copolymer-like systems obtained by hydrogen bonding between flexi ble polymers and nonmesogenic amphiphiles represent a class of supramo lecular materials with interesting self-organizing properties. Here we present the first results of transmission electron microscopy applied to mesomorphic systems of poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-4-nonadecylphenol as a characteristic example. Phase contrast imaging of iodine-stained sa mples Confirms the highly ordered lamellar structures with a long peri od of around 40 Angstrom inferred also from small-angle X-ray scatteri ng data.