Supramolecular Self-assembly of Discotic Liquid Crystal Containing Oligo Block Copolymers

1. Supramolecular Self-assembly of Discotic Liquid Crystal Containing Oligo Block Copolymers Lei Zhu, University of Connecticut, DMR-0348724 • A discotic liquid crystalline molecule containing oligo block copolymer, PE-b-PEO-b-P5T, was successfully synthesized by coupling PE-PEO-OH and P5T-OH using oxalyl chloride. • Bilayer discotic liquid crystals were sandwiched between crystalline PE lamellae (see the TEM micrograph). At low temperatures (< 20 °C), columnar nematic phase was observed. At high temperatures (30 °C < T < 95 °C), discotic nematic phase was seen. • We are interested in developing novel types of block molecules/oligomers, which contain discotic molecules, rod-like molecules, and spherical molecules, and study their supramolecular self-assembly. • Publications on Block Oligomers: • 1. Cui, L. et al. Macromolecules 2005, 38, 3386-3394. • 2. Sun, L. et al. Polymer2004, 45, 8181-8193. • 3. Miao J. et al. Macromolecules2005, ASAP. WAXD patterns at 15 °C and 60 °C show different discotic liquid crystalline morphologies, respectively. POM picture shows crystalline morphology from PE. TEM micrograph shows the sandwiched structure of P5T between two dark layers representing PEO.

2. Supramolecular Self-assembly of Discotic Liquid Crystal Containing Oligo Block Copolymers Lei Zhu, University of Connecticut, DMR-0348724 Education at Graduate and Undergraduate Levels: Two Ph.D. students: Lu Sun (2nd yr), Jianjun Miao (1st yr) One post-doctoral fellow: Dr. Li Cui One REU undergraduate student: Jorge Ginorio (Universidad de Puerto Rico, RUM) Two Chemical Engineering undergraduate students: Jeffrey Collet and Janet Grezlik Hosted a French trainee student: Michaël Prévost (04/05-07/05, University of Rouen, France) • Outreach for K12 Education: • An RET teacher from Somers High School, Dr. Richard Wilson, worked in our lab this summer. He experienced synthesis and characterization of asymmetric discotic liquid crystals. He performed synchrotron X-ray scattering experiments on beamline X27C at National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Lab. He will bring his experience on liquid crystals and polymers to his high school students. Dr. Richard Wilson works at X27C, NSLS, BNL • The PI taught both Somers Middle and High Schools science and technology classes. The high school students performed experiments to make various shaped bubbles from polymer surfactants. The middle school students learned polymer displays for next generation TV.