Synthesis and self-assembly of copolymers with pendant electroactive units

The methacrylic copolymers incorporated with electroactive groups such as thiophene, carbazole, and fluorene moieties on the side chain were synthesized. Our approach consists of incorporating multiple electroactive functional groups onto a polymer backbone that can be used to develop functional materials. All copolymers were characterized, and a systematic structure-property relationship study was established. The structure and morphology of supramolecular self-assembly of copolymers were studied using transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. Polymers can be patterned using an atomic force microscope, and nanosized lines or dots can be drawn on the polymer films. Polymer nanotubes obtained through self-assembly can be further stabilized by electropolymerization of the side chains.