Influence of Chain Length on the Self-Assembly of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Grafted Graphene Quantum Dots

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03269
• Publication Date: 2017-11-03T19:51:46Z
• Authors: Nabasmita Maity; Priyadarshi Chakr...; Arun K. Nandi
• Keywords: Caprolactone

The multifarious applications of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) necessitate surface modifications to enhance their solution processability. Herein, we report the synthesis and self-assembly GQDs grafted with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) different degrees polymerization (3, 7, 15, 21) produced from ring-opening polymerization. Optical morphological studies unveil transformation assemblies J-aggregates H-aggregates, accompanied by an alteration in morphology toroid spheroid rodlike structures increasing chain length PCL. Functionalized lower lengths PCL at higher concentration also assemble into liquid-crystalline phases as observed birefringent textures, which are later correlated formation columnar hexagonal (Colh) mesophases. However, no such behavior is under identical conditions. Therefore, it evident that variation plays a crucial role self-assembly, primarily triggered van der Waals force between polymer chains dictating π stacking GQDs, resulting self- aggregated behavior.