CO2‐Induced Morphological Transition of Co‐Assemblies from Block‐Random Segmented Polymers. Issue 23 (12th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yin, Hongyao; Wang, Wei; Mu, Meng; Feng, Yujun
• Other Names: Li G.‐X. guestEditor.; Fu Q. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 38:Issue 23(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-09-12
• Subjects: co‐assembly process -- CO2‐sensitivity -- morphological transition -- segmented copolymers; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700437
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract: The co‐assembly process is an effective approach to construct hierarchically nanostructured soft materials, but morphological transition of co‐assemblies upon external stimuli, particularly the "green" trigger CO2, is not unraveled yet. Here, a segmented copolymer, poly(styrene)‐ block ‐poly[(4‐vinyl pyridine)– random ‐((2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (P1), is used to co‐assemble in the mixed solvent of dimethyl formamide and water with poly(ethylene oxide)‐ block ‐poly[(4‐vinyl pyridine)– random ‐((2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (P2) and poly(ethylene oxide)‐ block ‐poly(acrylic acid) (P3), respectively. It is found that Janus micelles are generated from the P1–P2 pair in the presence of ferric ion, while wormlike micelles are formed from the P1–P3 duad. Upon stimulation with CO2, Janus and wormlike aggregates are transferred into core–shell and spherical micelles, respectively. Abstract : Block‐random segmented copolymers are synthesized and used to fabricate hierarchical assemblies through a co‐assembly process. Janus and wormlike micelles are obtained and are further transformed into core–shell and spherical micelles, respectively, upon CO2 stimulus due to the protonation of tertiary amino groups in the polymers.