Polyester Ionomers

Weiß, Robert

doi:10.1002/9781119535775.ch4

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 140 publications

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“…Ionizable polymers are used in a wide range of applications, particularly lightweight clean energy devices , and responsive materials for biotechnology. , These polymers consist of ionizable groups that assemble into clusters, − forming distinctive hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains in melts and solutions, where the ionic assemblies control transport pathways in membranes. − In the presence of solvents and electric fields that are in the core of the many applications of these polymers, the domains adapt, affecting the structure and consequently the functionality and stability of the materials. ,, Controlling the structure and mobility of ionizable polymers is fundamental to their current and potential applications. However, the correlation between the characteristics of the ionic clusters and the structure of ionomers remains a critical open question.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clustering Effects on the Structure of Ionomer Solutions: A Combined SANS and Simulations Study

Kosgallana,

Senanayake,

Mohottalalage

et al. 2024

Macromolecules

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Ionic assemblies, or clusters, determine the structure and dynamics of ionizable polymers and enable their many applications. Fundamental to attaining well-defined materials is controlling the balance between the van der Waals interactions that govern the backbone behavior and the forces that drive the formation of ionic clusters. Here, using small-angle neutron scattering and fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the structure of a model ionomer, sulfonated polystyrene in toluene solutions, was investigated as the cluster cohesion was tweaked by the addition of ethanol. The static structure factor was measured by both techniques and correlated with the size of the ionic clusters as the polymer concentration was varied. The conjunction of SANS results and molecular insight from MD simulations enabled the determination of the structure of these inhomogeneous networks on multiple length scales. We find that across the entire concentration range studied, a network driven by the formation of ionic clusters was formed, where the size of the clusters drives the inhomogeneity of these systems. Tweaking the ionic clusters through the addition of ethanol impacts the packing of the sulfonated groups, their shape, and their size distribution, which, in turn, affects the structure of these networks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clustering Effects on the Structure of Ionomer Solutions: A Combined SANS and Simulations Study

Kosgallana,

Senanayake,

Mohottalalage

et al. 2024

Macromolecules

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Structure and Dynamics of THF Swollen Polystyrene Ionomer Melts

Kosgallana,

Grest,

Perahia

2024

Macromolecules

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The structure of ionomers is often trapped in far-from-equilibrium states as a result of clustering of the ionizable groups. Solvent tweaking of the ionic clusters to allow rearrangements to form thermodynamic stable systems at ambient temperature is a promising path for constraint release, offering a path to form equilibrium structures. However, it requires a common solvent for the highly segregated ionic clusters and the polymer matrix. The current study probes the structure and dynamics of sulfonated polystyrene ionomer melts swollen with tetrahydrofuran (THF), a hydrophobic yet polar solvent, by using fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The structure and dynamics of these swollen melts were calculated and correlated with the characteristics of the ionic clusters. We find that THF partitions to the polystyrene-rich domains as well as to the interface of the ionic domains, resulting in enhanced dynamics of the chains on all length scales measured, as expected for a swollen melt. Surprisingly though, the cluster size increases with time in the presence of THF, indicating that the solvent releases some of the constraints, enabling the growth of ionic assemblies.

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Polyester Ionomers

Cited by 2 publications

References 140 publications

Clustering Effects on the Structure of Ionomer Solutions: A Combined SANS and Simulations Study

Clustering Effects on the Structure of Ionomer Solutions: A Combined SANS and Simulations Study

Structure and Dynamics of THF Swollen Polystyrene Ionomer Melts

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