Materials with Self Organized Surfaces: 2D Polymer Assemblies.

Our laboratory has developed the concept of "bulk" synthesized 2D polymers through self assembly of reactive oligomers into layered structures. The products from these supermolecular reaction schemes are high molar mass flat macromolecules which in fusible systems retain their shape during solid to liquid phase transitions. We describe here a new system based on nanophase separated rodcoils functionalized at one terminus with the objective of producing 2D polymers with two chemically different surfaces. One surface of the macromolecule contains closely packed methyl groups and it is therefore highly hydrophobic, whereas the other is hydrophilic being composed of phenolic or carboxyl functions. Interestingly, solvent cast "macroscopic" films of the layered assemblies develop spontaneously one hydrophobic surface and a very sticky one which is readily wet by water. This of a bulk material with self organized surfaces, an important objective for the exploitation of self assembly in manufacturing. Such materials would open the door to concepts such as self organized interfaces for composite materials, self organized tapes and membranes with chemically defined surfaces, as well as tubes with chemically defined lumina.