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Visualization of Two-dimensional Single Chains of Hybrid Polyelectrolytes on Solid Surface

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Abstract

The polyacidic character of polyoxometalate (POM) clusters endows high ionic conductivity, making these clusters good candidates for solar and fuel cells. Covalent bonding of clusters to polymer chains creates poly(POM)s that are polyelectrolytes with both cluster functions and polymer performance. Thus, solution-processable poly(POM)s are expected to be used as key materials in advanced devices. Further understanding of poly(POM)s will optimize the preparation process and improve device performance. Herein, we report a study of the first linear poly(POM)s by directly visualizing the chains using scanning transmission electron microscopy. Compared with traditional polymers, individual clusters of poly(POM)s can be directly visualized because of the resistance to electron-beam damage and the high contrast of the tungsten POM pendants. Thus, cluster aggregates with diverse shapes were observed. Counting the number of clusters in the aggregates allowed the degree of polymerization and molecular weight distribution to be determined, and studying the aggregate shapes revealed the presence of a curved semirigid chain in solution. Further study of shape diversity revealed that strong interactions between clusters determine the diverse chain shapes formed during solution processing. Fundamental insight is critical to understanding the formation of poly(POM) films from solutions as key functional materials, especially for fuel and solar cells.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21334003 and 21674052).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Synthetic Soft Materials, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education and Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Lan-Lan Zhang, Wen-Ke Miao, Li-Jun Ren, Yu-Kun Yan & Wei Wang

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Wei Wang

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  1. Lan-Lan Zhang
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  2. Wen-Ke Miao
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  4. Yu-Kun Yan
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  5. Wei Wang
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Correspondence to Wei Wang.

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Zhang, LL., Miao, WK., Ren, LJ. et al. Visualization of Two-dimensional Single Chains of Hybrid Polyelectrolytes on Solid Surface. Chin J Polym Sci 39, 716–724 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-021-2520-4

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