Issue 32, 2015

Impact of chain microstructure on solution and thin film self-assembly of PCHD-based semi-flexible/flexible diblock copolymers

Abstract

Self-assembly of semi-flexible/flexible block copolymers in a selective solvent is examined using a set of diblock copolymers where the chain microstructure of the semi-flexible block is manipulated in order to tune chain stiffness. Conceptually, the reduced conformational space of the semi-flexible block is anticipated to alter the way the chains pack, potentially changing the structure of self-assembled aggregates in comparison to flexible diblock copolymer analogs. Semi-flexible/flexible diblock copolymers comprised of poly(styrene)-block-poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) (PS-b-PCHD) having systematic changes in chain microstructure, as captured by the ratio of 1,4/1,2-linkages between cyclohexenyl repeat units, and molecular weight of the PCHD blocks were synthesized using anionic polymerization. These diblocks were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is a preferential solvent for PS, and the structures formed were examined using laser light scattering and complementary imaging techniques. Results show that PS-b-PCHD copolymers with a chain microstructure of 90% 1,4/10% 1,2 linkages between cyclohexenyl repeat units (referred to simply as 90/10) are able to micellize, forming spherical structures, while diblocks of 70/30 and 50/50 1,4-to-1,2 ratios remain as single chains and ill-defined aggregates, respectively, when dissolved in THF. With inferences drawn from simple structural models, we speculate that this self-assembly behavior arises due to the change in the chain configuration with increasing content of 1,2-links in the backbone. This renders the chain with higher 1,2 content incapable of swelling in response to solvent and unable to pack into well-defined self-assembled structures.

Graphical abstract: Impact of chain microstructure on solution and thin film self-assembly of PCHD-based semi-flexible/flexible diblock copolymers

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 May 2015
Accepted
10 Jul 2015
First published
17 Jul 2015

Soft Matter, 2015,11, 6509-6519

Impact of chain microstructure on solution and thin film self-assembly of PCHD-based semi-flexible/flexible diblock copolymers

K. Bornani, X. Wang, J. L. Davis, X. Wang, W. Wang, J. P. Hinestrosa, J. W. Mays and S. M. Kilbey II, Soft Matter, 2015, 11, 6509 DOI: 10.1039/C5SM01245G

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