Stilbene-labeled polystyrene

Phase separation of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) blends was induced under spatially and temporally periodic forcing conditions by taking advantage of either photodimerization of anthracene or photoisomerization of /rt//i .9 stilbene chemically labeled on polystyrene chains. Significant mode election processes driven by these reactions were experimentally observed and analyzed for both cases. These experimental results reveal a potential method of morphology control using periodic forcing conditions. 

Samples used in this work are the mixtures of poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME, 1.0 X 105, M = 2.5) and polystyrene (PS) derivatives. To be able to induce phase separation by light, the PS component was chemically labeled with photoreactive groups, either with anthracene (A) or rra/i -stilbene (S). The synthesis procedure of these polymers was published elsewhere (8,16). 

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