Molecular level ordered poly(4-vinylpyridine) from a simple hydrogen bonding with a magnetic crosslinker

Abstract

Molecular-level ordering is an important and challenging objective of current research in materials chemistry and physics. To address these challenges, we have focused on new fabrication strategy for molecular-level ordering in amorphous polymer by means of a simple chemical crosslinking with functional crosslinker. Herein, we demonstrate the existence of magnetic order for one-dimensional monatomic chains of Fe atoms constructed by molecular-level self-assembly during the hydrogen bonding between poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and 1,1-ferrocene dicarboxylic acid (FDA). Molecular-level self-assembly during the chemical interaction of P4VP with FDA leads to the sub-nanometer level ordering of pyridine moieties. The ordered morphologies were studied with a high voltage electron microscope, coupled with X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the Fe atoms chains are characterized by large localized orbital moments and correspondingly large magnetic anisotropy energies compared to bulk FDA.