Liquid crystalline mesophases of pluronics (L64, P65, and P123) and transition metal nitrate salts ([M(H2O)6](NO 3)2)
Date
2005Source Title
Langmuir
Print ISSN
0743-7463
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Volume
21
Issue
9
Pages
4156 - 4162
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers, Pluronics (L64, P65, and P123), form liquid crystalline (LC) mesophases with transition metal nitrate salts (TMS), [M(H2O) n] (NO3)2, in the presence and absence of free water in the media. In this assembly process, M-OH2 plays an important role as observed in a TMS:CnEOm (C nEOm is oligo(ethylene oxide) nonionic surfactants) system. The structure of the LC mesophases and interactions of the metal ion-nitrate ion and metal ion-Pluronic were investigated using microscopy (POM), diffraction (XRD), and spectroscopy (FTIR and micro-Raman) techniques. The TMS:L64 system requires a shear force for mesophase ordering to be observed using X-ray diffraction. However, TMS:P65 and TMS:P123 form well structured LC mesophases. Depending on the salt/Pluronic mole ratio, hexagonal LC mesophases are observed in the TMS:P65 systems and cubic and tetragonal LC mesophases in the TMS:P123 systems. The LC mesophase in the water/salt/Pluronic system is sensitive to the concentration of free (H2O) and coordinated water (M-OH2) molecules and demonstrates structural changes. As the free water is evaporated from the H2O:TMS:Pluronic LC mesophase (ternary mixture), the nitrate ion remains free in the media. However, complete evaporation of the free water molecules enforces the coordination of the nitrate ion to the metal ion in all TMS:Pluronic systems. © 2005 American Chemical Society.
Keywords
Concentration (process)Copolymers
Liquid crystals
Nitrates
Polyethylenes
Salts
Surface active agents
X ray diffraction analysis
Ion density
Nitrate salts
Pluronics
Solid materials
Transition metals