The simultaneous control over the alternating sequence and the inner-core position of the mesogenic segments in side-chain liquid crystal polymers

Abstract

Hydrosilylated 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE-SiH/2SiH) are herein quantitatively and alternatingly incorporated during the living anionic copolymerization of isoprene with DPE-SiH/2SiH, which can efficiently control the Si-H densities and positions. The diversified mesogenic moieties containing azobenzene (Azo) or trifluoromethyl (F3C) groups, respectively, with the tuned inner-core position of the mesogenic segments are rationally designed and then fabricated into multiple alternatingly-arranged side-chain liquid crystal polymers (SCLCPs) along the alternating backbones. This study presents the novel SCLCPs with the simultaneous control over the sequence and the inner-core position of the mesogenic segment, providing the promising route and study model to develop the mechanistic investigations. The temperature range of mesomorphic phase formation (ΔT) and polarized optical morphologies are proved to be synergistically dependent on the diversified mesogenic moieties and the exactly controlled densities of the mesogenic segment.