Phase behavior and structure formation of hairy-rod supramolecules

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Abstract
Phase behavior and microstructure formation of rod and coil molecules, which can associate to form hairy-rod polymeric supramolecules, are addressed theoretically. Association induces considerable compatibility enhancement between the rod and coil molecules and various microscopically ordered structures can appear in the compatibility region. The equilibria between microphase-separated states, the coil-rich isotropic liquid and the rod-rich nematic are discussed in detail. In the regime where hairy-rod supramolecules with a high grafting density appear as a result of the association, three phase diagram types are possible depending on the value of the association energy. In the low grafting density regime only the lamellar microstructure is proven to be stable.