Liquid-crystalline ionomers as a new class of mesomorphous polymeric systems

Data on the synthesis, structure and physicochemical properties of liquid-crystalline ionomers, a new class of mesomorphous polymeric compounds, are summarised. The main classes of the liquid-crystalline ionomers studied to date (including comb-like and linear) and liquid-crystalline chelato-telechelic polymers are considered. It is demonstrated that the ionomer phase state and structure are determined by the ability of ion pairs to form stable ionic aggregates. A new model of the structural organisation of liquid-crystalline ionomers is proposed.