LAUSR

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP) usually contains a simple and flexible homopolymer as main chain, while its effect on the self-assembly behaviour is often ignored. In this work, in order to increase the structural complexity and investigate the interaction between the main chain and mesogens, perfluorinated segments were introduced into the main chain using a photoinduced Step Transfer-Addition & Radical-Termination (START) polymerization method, producing a novel series of SCLCPs containing 4-methoxyphenyl benzoate mesogens, soft hydrocarbon spacers and a strictly alternating perfluoroalkyl and alkyl backbone. By adjusting the length of spacers or perfluoroalkyl segments, several mesophases with complex chain packing structures were achieved. This design strategy that constructing highly-ordered LC structures from SCLCPs with precise chemical structure provides a facile way towards novel LC nanomaterials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.