文摘
We report here the self-assembly studies of 22 polycarbodiimides (PCDs) in complex morphologies such as fibers, looped fibers, fibrous networks, ribbons, worm-like aggregates, toroidal structures, and craters that were examined by combination of TMAFM, TEM, SEM, and powder XRD methods as well as semiempirical modeling. Morphology characterization in the thin film (TMAFM, TEM) and in bulk (SEM, pXRD) revealed the formation of fiber-like aggregates assembled from the bundles of individual helices. In certain cases superhelical motifs of both right- and left-handed screw senses were identified. It seemed likely that the great variety of morphologies observed is a result of extensive hydrophobic side chain/side chain interactions of the singular polycarbodiimide strands.