Self-Healing Supramolecular Materials Constructed by Copolymerization via Molecular Recognition of Cavitand-Based Coordination Capsules

The repeating guest units of poly-(R)-2were selectively encapsulated by the self-assembled capsule poly-1possessing eight polymer side chains to form the supramolecular graft polymer (poly-1)(n).poly-(R)-2. The encapsulation of the guest units was confirmed by(1)H NMR spectroscopy and the DOSY technique. The hydrodynamic radius of the graft polymer structure was greatly increased upon the complexation of poly-1. The supramolecular graft polymer (poly-1)(n).poly-(R)-2was stably formed in the 1:1 host-guest ratio, which increased the glass transition temperature by more than 10 degrees C compared to that of poly-1. AFM visualized that (poly-1)(n).poly-(R)-2formed the networked structure on mica. The (poly-1)(n).poly-(R)-2gelled in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, which led to fabrication of distinct viscoelastic materials that demonstrated self-healing behavior in a tensile test.