Extended chain lamellae self-assembled in liquid crystal phase of soluble polydiacetylenes through chain segregation

This review article highlights our efforts in the past years toward a fundamental understanding of the supramolecular structures of a soluble but rigid polydiacetylene. In our earlier works we presented evidence to indicate that this polymer formed a lyotropic phase in solutions. TEM, AFM and SEM observations on solidified thin films showed an extended chain lamellar structure which is surmised to be self-assembled in the lyotropic phase through chain segregation. Our results revealed that the supramolecular structures formed are closely associated with the structures formed in the lyotropic state. Due to three attributes of rigid macromolecules at the molecular level- high molecular weight, broad molecular weight distribution, and worm-like chain conformation, the supramolecular structures observed are also greatly different from those of conventional nematics or smectics.