Self-assembly of mesoscopically ordered chromatic polydiacetylene/silica nanocomposites

Citation
Yf. Lu et al., Self-assembly of mesoscopically ordered chromatic polydiacetylene/silica nanocomposites, NATURE, 410(6831), 2001, pp. 913-917
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary
Journal title
NATURE
ISSN journal
00280836 → ACNP
Volume
410
Issue
6831
Year of publication
2001
Pages
913 - 917
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-0836(20010419)410:6831<913:SOMOCP>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
Nature abounds with intricate composite architectures composed of hard and soft materials synergistically intertwined to provide both useful functiona lity and mechanical integrity. Recent synthetic efforts to mimic such natur al designs have focused on nanocomposites(1-5), prepared mainly by slow pro cedures like monomer or polymer infiltration of inorganic nanostructures(6, 7) or sequential deposition(8,9). Here we report the self-assembly of conju gated polymer/silica nanocomposite films with hexagonal, cubic or lamellar mesoscopic order using polymerizable amphiphilic diacetylene molecules as b oth structure-directing agents and monomers. The self-assembly procedure is rapid and incorporates the organic monomers uniformly within a highly orde red, inorganic environment. Polymerization results in polydiacetylene/silic a nanocomposites that are optically transparent and mechanically robust. Co mpared to ordered diacetylene-containing films prepared as Langmuir monolay ers(10) or by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition(10), the nanostructured inorgani c host alters the diacetylene polymerization behaviour, and the resulting n anocomposite exhibits unusual chromatic changes in response to thermal, mec hanical and chemical stimuli. The inorganic framework serves to protect, st abilize, and orient the polymer, and to mediate its function. The nanocompo site architecture also provides sufficient mechanical integrity to enable i ntegration into devices and microsystems.