In situ generation and evolution of polymer toroids by liquid crystallization-assisted seeded dispersion polymerization

Abstract

An effective method is presented for preparing high solid content azobenzene-containing triblock copolymer toroidal assemblies by liquid crystallization-assisted seeded dispersion polymerization. Vesicles are prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), and used as seeds for further chain extension. By introducing smectic liquid crystalline (LC) ordering into the core-forming block, toroids are formed in situ during the polymerization. The morphological transformation from toroids to barrels is observed under ultraviolet irradiation due to the photo-isomerization of the azobenzene mesogens. This strategy expands the scope of tunable anisotropic morphologies for potential functional nanomaterials based on a LC copolymer by seeded dispersion polymerization.