Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly of block copolymer through dispersion RAFT polymerization in ionic liquid. Issue 11 (28th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Heng; Liu, Chonggao; Gao, Chengqiang; Qu, Yaqing; Shi, Keyu; Zhang, Wangqing
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 54:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 1517
• Page End: 1525
• Publication Date: 2015-12-28
• Subjects: block copolymers -- ionic liquid -- nanoparticles -- reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization -- self‐assembly; 547
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.28002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-624X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly of block copolymer through dispersion RAFT polymerization has been demonstrated to be a valid method to prepare block copolymer nano‐objects. However, volatile solvents are generally involved in this preparation. Herein, the in situ synthesis of block copolymer nano‐objects of poly(ethylene glycol)‐ block ‐polystyrene (PEG‐ b ‐PS) in the ionic liquid of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIN][PF6 ]) through the macro‐RAFT agent mediated dispersion polymerization is investigated. It is found that the dispersion RAFT polymerization of styrene in the ionic liquid of [BMIN][PF6 ] runs faster than that in the alcoholic solvent, and the dispersion RAFT polymerization in the ionic liquid affords good control over the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of the PEG‐ b ‐PS diblock copolymer. The morphology of the in situ synthesized PEG‐ b ‐PS diblock copolymer nano‐objects, e.g., nanospheres and vesicles, in the ionic liquid is dependent on the polymerization degree of the solvophobic block and the concentration of the fed monomer, which is somewhat similar to those in alcoholic solvent. It is anticipated that the dispersion RAFT polymerization in ionic liquid broads a new way to prepare block copolymer nano‐objects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2016, 54, 1517–1525 Abstract : In situ synthesis of block copolymer nano‐objects through the macro‐RAFT agent mediated dispersion polymerization in the ionic liquid of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIN][PF6 ]) is investigated. This dispersion RAFT polymerization in ionic liquid affords three advantages including (1) the fast polymerization kinetics, (2) good control on the polymer molecular weight and molecular weight distribution and (3) the tunable morphology of the block copolymer nano‐objects.