Synthesis of ppv nanocomposites using lyotropic liquid crystal monomers

The synthesis of hexagonally ordered poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) nanocomposites using polymerizable lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) is described. LLC monomers are used to form an inverted hexagonal phase in the presence of an aqueous PPV precursor solution. Subsequent photopolymerization to lock-in the matrix architecture, followed by thermal conversion of the precursor to PPV in the channels, yields the final nanocomposite. The photoluminescence of these materials is very different from that of pure PPV. The nanometer-scale dimensions of the composites can be also tuned by modifying the ionic head group and the organic tails of the LC monomer.