The solution phase characterization of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)s by small-angle neutron scattering

George R. Whittell, Joe B. Gilroy, Isabelle Grillo, Ian Manners, Robert M. Richardson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A series of monodisperse (M-w/M-n <1.1) poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)s was prepared with number-averaged degrees of polymerization, z(n), of 9, 33, 206, and 506 (2-5, respectively), as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymers were studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in solution with the aim of obtaining the radius of gyration, R-g, the weight-averaged molecular weight, M-w, and the polydispersity index, M-w/M-n. Data were collected over the range 0.008 <Q/angstrom(-1) <0.5 and for a series of concentrations (weight fraction, w = 0.0063, 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05). The scattered intensity, I(Q), was fitted to a model based on a Schultz-Zimm distribution of isolated chains with excluded volume. A comparison of the molecular weight and size data determined by GPC and SANS indicated an acceptable agreement between the values for R-g, M-w and M-w/M-n. The results of this study demonstrate the potential utility of SANS to fully characterize metallopolymers, and other polymer systems where traditional methods cannot be applied. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4011-4020

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4011-4020
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Volume51
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • gel permeation chromatography
  • metallopolymers
  • molecular weight distribution
  • neutron scattering
  • RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION
  • LIVING ANIONIC-POLYMERIZATION
  • HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT
  • BLOCK-COPOLYMERS
  • POLYMERS
  • HOMOPOLYMERS
  • COMPLEXES
  • GERMANIUM
  • ROUTE
  • POLYELECTROLYTES

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