Investigations on the morphology of poly-1,4-(phenylethyl xylylene) in solution

Several poly-1,4-(phenylethyl xylylene)s of varying molecular weight were i nvestigated with a combination of X-ray and light scattering techniques as well as with scanning force and transmission electron microscopy to elucida te their aggregation behavior in solution. It turns out that this polymer a ggregates into ribbon-like supermolecular structures. Aggregation is the mo re pronounced the higher the concentration and the molecular weight of the polymer. Switching the solvent from tetrahydrofuran to chloroform only weak ly diminishes the ability to form aggregates. The stiff aggregate ribbons i n solution are 30-40 nm broad, about 5 MI high and several micrometers long . The cross-section of the ribbons is inhomogeneous and presumably consists of 0.5 nm thick layers.