Smart Self‐Adjustment of Surface Micelles of an Amphiphilic Block Copolymer to Nanoscopic Pattern Boundaries

Abstract

Confining surface‐pinned micelles consisting of a block copolymer onto a topographically patterned substrate is demonstrated (see figure) with a novel approach to control both the local as well as global structural symmetry and periodicity of the self‐assembled block copolymer. No surface micelles are confined into the dents at the position of 1a. The surface micelles formed with bimodal size distribution are assembled into two different tetragonal symmetries indicated by the solid and dotted lines, respectively.

Dye Molecules Encapsulated in a Micelle Structure: Nano‐Aggregates with Enhanced Optical Properties

“…Organic materials are an essential ingredient in many recently emerging applications in optics such as organic light‐emitting diodes, lasers, nonlinear media and photovoltaic cells 1–4. By harnessing the coupling of separate dye molecules, it is possible to realize novel opto‐electronic properties such as superradiance5 or modify energy transfer processes 6.…”

Cellulose Nanofibrils and Diblock Copolymer Complex: Micelle Formation and Enhanced Dispersibility

“…Diblock copolymers form spherical micelles in a solution within a selective solvent, and the micelles can be directly adsorbed onto solid substrates and cellulose surfaces . Alternatively, diblock copolymers adsorbed or grafted on the substrates from nonselective solvents can self-organize or self-assemble in a selective medium, resulting in the formation of so-called surface micelles. − In this study, unbound polymer chains had been removed through several washes of the CNF-block copolymer complex in a good solvent (THF) for the polymer. The micelles could originate from self-organization of the PMMA- b -PAA chains on the surface of the nanofibrils.…”

Formation of unusual microphase-separated ultrathin films of poly(vinyl catechol-block-styrene) (PVCa-b-PSt) at the air–water interface by solution casting onto water

“…This result is very different from that obtained for usual surface micelles because diblock copolymers oen phase-separate at the air-water interface, with hydrophobic segments exposed to air and hydrophilic segments in the water phase. 25 Note that the PVCa-b-PSt used in this experiment forms a cylindrical structure in its bulk state, with cores and shells composed of PVCa and PSt domains, respectively. 21 These results indicate that microphase-separated structures were inverted by the process of mixing into water followed by solvent evaporation, and suggests that a different formation mechanism must exist for this phenomenon.…”