Influences of solvent media on chain organization and thermochromic behaviors of polydiacetylene assemblies prepared from monomer with symmetric alkyl tails

This contribution investigates thermochromic behaviors and morphologies of polydiacetylene(PDA) assemblies prepared from a diacetylene monomer constituting symmetric alkyl tails. Properties of solvent media strongly affects molecular organization during the preparation process. The use of water provides PDA assemblies with irregular shape while a sheet-like structure forms in butanol. Thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction detect the variation of crystalline fraction and interlamellar spacing in these structures. The change of solvent media significantly affects their thermochromic behaviors. Thin film of PDA assemblies prepared in butanol exhibits reversible thermochromism with much higher color-transition temperature compared to the system of water.