Electrical switching based on dimensionality transitions in nanostructured polymers

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 102; no. 1; pp. 1498 - 1501
• Main Authors: Ikkala, O., Ruokolainen, J., Mäkinen, R., Torkkeli, M., Serimaa, R., Mäkelä, T., ten Brinke, G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.06.1999; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied sciences; conducting polymers; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; order-disorder phase transitions; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; self-organization in macromolecules; structural phase transitions; switches; switches; conducting polymers; order-disorder phase transitions; structural phase transitions; self-organization in macromolecules
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/S0379-6779(98)00344-0

Supramolecular hierarchical conducting nanostructures are obtained by complexing amphiphilic oligomers with block copolymers. Nominally each pyridine group of poly(styrene)- block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine), i.e. (PS- block-P4VP), is first protonated by methane sulphonic acid (MSA) to yield PS- block-P4VP(MSA.) 1.0. It is further hydrogen bonded with stoichiometric amount of pentadecyl phenol (PDP) to form PS- block-P4VP(MSA) 1.0(PDP) 1.0. The polyelectrolytic domains are subject to reversible phase transitions from ”semi Id” slabs to 2d lamellae and further to 1d cylinders upon heating. The transitions manifest in the thermally activated conductivity. Extension to conjugated polymers is discussed to achieve temperature controlled switching based on electronic conductivity.