Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview01:26

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Harnessing Thin-Film Polymorphism via Regulating Conjugated Polymer-Solvent Interactions for Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

Fundamental Insights into Crystallization and Microphase Separation of Conjugated Block Copolymers.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same author

Cocrystal Engineering of Conjugated Polymer Blends via External Electric Field for Enhanced Charge Transport.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Tuning Solution Aggregates and Thin Film Polymorphs in Conjugated Polymers via External Electric Field for Field-Effect Transistors.

ACS macro letters·2025
Same author

Transfer Printing of Two-Dimensional Molecular Crystals for Low-Voltage, High-Performance, and Degradable Transistors.

Nano letters·2025
Same author

Large-Scale Patterning and Polymorph Transition of Conjugated Polymers via Meniscus-Guided Deposition for Field-Effect Transistors.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal
06:24

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Crystalline Structural Evolution in Polythiophene-Based Conjugated Polymer Blends During Rubbing.

Qiming Xu1, Hao Zheng1, Dingke Li1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|May 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Mechanical rubbing induces tunable crystalline structures in poly(3-alkylthiophene) (P3AT) blends. This study reveals how rubbing affects cocrystallization, phase separation, and crystal orientation in P3AT/P3AT blends, enabling control over material properties.

Keywords:
cocrystallizationconjugated polymer blendscrystal orientationphase separationrubbing

More Related Videos

Effect of Bending on the Electrical Characteristics of Flexible Organic Single Crystal-based Field-effect Transistors
08:43

Effect of Bending on the Electrical Characteristics of Flexible Organic Single Crystal-based Field-effect Transistors

Published on: November 7, 2016

Monitoring the Effects of Illumination on the Structure of Conjugated Polymer Gels Using Neutron Scattering
06:16

Monitoring the Effects of Illumination on the Structure of Conjugated Polymer Gels Using Neutron Scattering

Published on: December 21, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal
06:24

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Effect of Bending on the Electrical Characteristics of Flexible Organic Single Crystal-based Field-effect Transistors
08:43

Effect of Bending on the Electrical Characteristics of Flexible Organic Single Crystal-based Field-effect Transistors

Published on: November 7, 2016

Monitoring the Effects of Illumination on the Structure of Conjugated Polymer Gels Using Neutron Scattering
06:16

Monitoring the Effects of Illumination on the Structure of Conjugated Polymer Gels Using Neutron Scattering

Published on: December 21, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Crystallography

Background:

  • Tailoring multilevel crystalline structures in conjugated polymers is crucial for understanding structure-property relationships.
  • Research on conjugated polymer blends, particularly poly(3-alkylthiophene) (P3AT) blends, remains limited.
  • Controlling polymer morphology at multiple levels is key for advanced material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the crystalline structural evolution in poly(3-alkylthiophene)/poly(3-alkylthiophene) (P3AT/P3AT) blends under mechanical rubbing.
  • To elucidate the formation mechanisms of cocrystalline, phase-separated, and anisotropic structures.
  • To establish structure-property relationships by controlling crystal orientation (edge-on and face-on).

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of P3AT/P3AT blends with varying alkyl side chains.
  • Application of mechanical rubbing at controlled temperatures (60°C and 120°C).
  • Analysis of crystalline structures, including cocrystallinity, phase separation, crystal orientation, and large-scale alignment.

Main Results:

  • As-cast P3HT/P3OT and P3HT/P3DDT blends exhibited phase-separated structures.
  • Rubbing induced transformations: P3HT/P3OT formed cocrystals at 60°C and 120°C; P3HT/P3DDT showed partial cocrystallization at 60°C, reverting to phase separation at 120°C.
  • Crystal orientation shifted from edge-on to mixed edge-on/face-on upon rubbing at 60°C, returning to edge-on at 120°C.
  • Both blends developed large-scale anisotropic crystalline structures aligned with the rubbing direction.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanical rubbing offers a versatile method to control multilevel crystalline structures in P3AT/P3AT blends.
  • The temperature-dependent evolution of cocrystallinity and phase separation is influenced by alkyl side chain length.
  • Understanding these structural transformations is vital for designing conjugated polymer materials with tailored properties.