Indole-based high-performance polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties via cation-π interaction

The preparation of high-performance polymeric materials with both excellent overall mechanical properties and heat resistance remains a considerable challenge. Inspired by the delicate self-assembly processes in nature, a facile strategy is reported for the preparation of high-performance polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical strength and improved thermal stability. In this instance, we successfully constructed a cation- π cross-linked polyimide (Na-poly(aryl indole) imide (Na-PINI)) film with enhanced mechanical performance and heat resistance (∼490°C). This work presents an innovative design strategy for realizing robust polymeric materials with integrated strength and thermal stability; the cation- π interaction is demonstrated to be a new method that may achieve many useful properties for high-performance polymers.