Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Thermoresponsive Diblock Copolymer Nano‐Objects via Aqueous Photoinitiated Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly (Photo‐PISA) using Thermoresponsive Macro‐RAFT Agents. Issue 17 (21st July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Jianbo; Bai, Yuhao; Zhang, Xuechao; Huang, Chundong; Liu, Dongdong; Zhang, Li
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 37:Issue 17(2016)
• Page Start: 1434
• Page End: 1440
• Publication Date: 2016-07-21
• Subjects: diblock copolymers -- photo‐PISA -- RAFT -- self‐assembly -- thermoresponsive; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201600299
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract : Photoinitiated reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate is conducted in water at low temperature using thermoresponsive copolymers of 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate ( M n = 475 g mol −1 ) as the macro‐RAFT agent. Kinetic studies confirm that quantitative monomer conversion is achieved within 15 min of visible‐light irradiation (405 nm, 0.5 mW cm −2 ), and good control is maintained during the polymerization. The polymerization can be temporally controlled by a simple "ON/OFF" switch of the light source. Finally, thermoresponsive diblock copolymer nano‐objects with a diverse set of complex morphologies (spheres, worms, and vesicles) are prepared using this particular formulation. Abstract : Thermoresponsive diblock copolymer nano‐objects are prepared by aqueous‐photo‐polymerization‐induced self‐assembly using thermoresponsive macro‐reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer agents at low temperatures. Polymerization proceeds rapidly via the exposure to 405 nm visible‐light irradiation, and good control is maintained during the polymerization. A diverse set of complex morphologies (spheres, worms, and vesicles) are prepared by this facile approach.