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AssigneeThe University of Hong Kong
InventorsVivian Wing-Wah Yam, Kaka Zhang, Yu-Lut Leung, Margaret Ching-Lam Yeung, Kwun-Wa Chan
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A supramolecular polymer with living characteristics is provided based on small molecules or metal complexes of a planar or linear geometry and a polymer. The small molecules are solvophobic and can associate or assemble with each other through non-covalent interactions such as but not limited to metal-metal, π-π, hydrogen-bonding, and/or solvophobic-solvophobic interactions, in the modulation of the polymer. The polymer has affinity to the medium (e.g., solvent) and still interacts with the small molecules via non-covalent interactions such as electrostatic attractions to stabilize the associated/assembled small molecules. Varying the composition and/or length of the polymer can modulate the dimensions of the supramolecular polymer and the nanostructures therefrom. The two- or multi-component supramolecular polymer has active ends to support further supramolecular polymerization upon addition of small molecules of a planar or linear geometry. A process of two-component living supramolecular polymerization is also provided.
A supramolecular polymer having active ends for propagation or elongation, comprising
A method comprising incubating, in a solvent, first small-molecule components and a polymer component for a period of time effective to induce formation of supramolecular polymers,
A multi-component supramolecular polymer comprising a plurality of supramolecular polymers, wherein the supramolecular polymers independently comprise
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.