Liquid crystalline polymeric wires for selective proton transport, part 1: Wires preparation

A new generation of hybrid biomimetic membranes, combining dendronised liquid-crystalline poly[2-(aziridin-1-yl)ethanol] with different modification degrees and anodized aluminum oxide as support, is reported here. The hybrid membranes are prepared by impregnation of the support with a 30% THF polymeric solution. The presence and homogeneous distribution of the polymeric material inside the membrane is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and line microanalysis. The polymers show tendency to self-assemble into columns, arraying into columnar liquid-crystalline mesophase. Columns homeotropical-like orientation, as a result of a thermal treatment at optimal conditions, is confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies at low 2 theta angles. Polymeric wires, being potential ion conductive pathways, resulting from assembling of polymeric columns are detected by SEM microscopy. Low absorption values for water and aqueous methanol solution are observed for hybrid systems, which suggest limited contribution of water in ion transport. Altogether, the new generation of hybrid membranes represents a promising class of biomimetic materials able to form oriented channels inside inorganic support. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.