Encapsulation of a self-assembling bicopper complex in polymer nanowires

We report on a new type of composite material where the filaments of a self -assembling bicopper complex (copperII-2-ethylhexanoate) are encapsulated i n a polymer matrix. The encapsulation is achieved in the fibrils created du ring the formation of thermoreversible gels. Two gelling systems have been studied: isotactic polystyrene/trans-decalin and poly[n-hexylisocyanate]/n- heptane. In the former system, addition of bicopper complex trigger gelatio n by heterogeneous nucleation while in the latter formation of a solid solu tion is thought to occur. In both cases, however, the bicopper complex fila ments are encapsulated in the polymer fibrils of the gel. Characterization by differential scanning calorimetry (thermodynamic study) and by atomic fo rce microscopy (morphology study) will be presented.