Microdomain morphology of cylinder-forming diblock copolymers under spherical shell confinement

Chai, Aihua; Zhang, Linxi

doi:10.1007/s10118-011-1072-4

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The shape and internal structure of nanostructured polymer particles play critical roles in determining their functions and for this reason are interesting. − How to simply and reversibly tailor their internal structure is decisive to exploit their applications . Well-defined and functional block copolymers (BCPs) have been extensively utilized to construct the nanostructures. − In order to control the internal structures, self-assembly of BCPs under 3D confinement is usually employed. − Generally, the morphologies are essentially dependent on external forces (confinement effect and boundary interaction) at a given molecular composition. As an example, when BCPs are confined in emulsion droplets, colloidal particles are created with tunable internal structure, shape, and surface composition. − Each emulsion droplet acts as a soft and deformable compartment for the confined assembly, which allows to finely tune the overall shape and internal structure by controlling the interfacial dynamics and the commensurability of the BCPs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversible Transformation of Nanostructured Polymer Particles

et al. 2013

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A reversible transformation of overall shape and internal structure as well as surface composition of nanostructured block copolymer particles is demonstrated by solvent-adsorption annealing. Polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) pupa-like particles with PS and P4VP lamellar domains alternatively stacked can be obtained by self-assembly of the block copolymer under 3D soft confinement. Chloroform, a good solvent for both blocks, is selected to swell and anneal the pupa-like particles suspended in aqueous media. Reversible transformation between pupa-like and onion-like structures of the particles can be readily tuned by simply adjusting the particle/aqueous solution interfacial property. Interestingly, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) concentration in the aqueous media plays a critical role in determining the particle morphology. High level of PVA concentration is favorable for pupa-like morphology, while extremely low concentration of PVA is favorable for the formation of onion-like particles. Moreover, the stimuli-response behavior of the particles can be highly suppressed through selective growth of Au nanoparticles within the P4VP domains. This strategy provides a new concept for the reversible transformation of nanostructured polymer particles, which will find potential applications in the field of sensing, detection, optical devices, drug delivery, and smart materials fabrication.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversible Transformation of Nanostructured Polymer Particles

et al. 2013

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“…Unlike Janus colloidal particles of homopolymer/homopolymer blends, few researches about block copolymer/homopolymer Janus colloidal particles have been reported so far. − Under 3D confinement, block copolymer can self-assemble into unique nanostructures through micorphase separation, − and the nanostructures can be well controlled by varying molecular composition, confinement effect, and boundary interaction. − Also, introduction of a homopolymer to the copolymer particles can be used to control the self-assembled morphology. Previous reports usually focused on the blending of diblock copolymer AB and homopolymer A.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymeric Janus Particles with Hierarchical Structures

et al. 2014

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Janus colloidal particles with hierarchical structures are generated by phase separation of diblock copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) and homopolymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) binary blends in confined geometry. The dependence of their morphology on the copolymer composition, solvent selectivity, particle size, and polymer/aqueous solution interfacial property was investigated. By varying the particle/ aqueous solution interfacial property alternately, the Janus particles exhibited a reversible morphological transformation under solvent-adsorption annealing process. In addition, by introducing 3-n-pentadecyphenol (PDP) which can hydrogen bond with P4VP to form supramolecules, the structure of the Janus particles can be well tuned. Furthermore, due to the complexation of pyridine unit with Au precursor, composite Janus particles with Au nanoparticles selectively incorporated in P4VP microdomains can be easily manipulated.

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“…Most recently, the phase segregation in geometries other than planar lms has been studied as well; these systems comprise, amongst others, square-pillar arrays, 54 nanorod arrays, 55 nanopores, [56][57][58][59] and spherical shell connements. 60 For all these cases, shear ow plays an important role as a means for aligning the microscopic domains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%