Polybenzobisimidazole-Derived Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Polymer

We report a novel crystalline supramolecular poly-benzobisimidazole (SP-PBBI) capable of providing a two-dimensional polymer (2DSP-PBBI) by liquid-phase exfoliation. A regular arrangement of rigid rod-like polybenzobisimidazole (PBBI)chainsis achieved by interchain hydrogen bonding. Titration of 2DSP-PBBI with cobalt chloride (CoCl2) using UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrates the presence of bidentate NO ligands on the PBBI backbone and NO-Co(II) complexation. Imaging analysis using atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals the planar surface morphology of exfoliated 2DSP-PBBI sheets with lateral dimensions of < 1 mu m and thickness of < 30 nm. The size of the polymer crystal growth is tuned by employing condensation/ precipitation polymerization under nonisothermal conditions. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.