Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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CPP: Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 5: Polyelectrolytes

CPP 5.8: Talk

Monday, March 27, 2006, 16:30–16:45, ZEU 160

Imaging of rodlike polyelectrolyte micells — •Ingo Lieberwirth, Anja Kröger, Jörg Belack, and Gerhard Wegner — Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz

Mimicking the intricate structures and complex function of biological macromolecules with synthetic polymers is an attractive challenge. Research in this area will provide fundamental insights into the behavior and function of biopolymers and produce new materials as well for advanced applications in areas ranging from materials science to medicine. Biogenic polymers can frequently be considered as wormlike polyelectrolytes that have the tendency to self-aggregate into well-defined superstructures.

Serving as a model system, the self-assembly of rod-like polyelectrolytes consisting of a poly (p-phenylene) backbone with solfonic acid and dodecyl side groups was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In consistency with the DLS and SAXS measurements, the observed morphologies yield cylindical micells with morphologies ranging from individual strands and loops to gel-like networks.

A feature which is clearly established is the formation of closed loops and lasso-like structures starting from the individual micelles. Based on the reasonable assumption hat the packing of the constituent PPPSH chains within the individual micelles is of nematic and thus fluid character, a mechanism for the formation of closed loops has been suggested.