Preparation of novel polyimide hybrid materials by multi-layered charge-transfer complex formation

Abstract

A versatile method for the post-modification of sulfonated polyimides by charge-transfer (CT) complex formation between electron-deficient naphthalenediimide units in polyimide and electron-rich dihydroxynaphthalene was developed. CT complex hybrid films whose physicochemical properties, such as mechanical strength, differed from those of the original polyimide films were successfully fabricated. A versatile post-modification method for polyimides using CT complex formation between electron-deficient naphthalenediimide units in the polyimide and electron-rich dihydroxynaphthalene was developed. The film preparation by CT complex formation reported in this paper is an attractive method for functionalization of polyimides because many donor molecules and polyimides can be used. The supramolecular methodology shown here is quite simple, but is an innovative method for polyimide modification.