Reaction-induced phase transitions with block copolymers in solution and bulk

Abstract

Reaction-induced phase transitions (RIPTs) encompass a broad range of synthetic strategies that use chemical reactions to drive the organization of macromolecules into complex, nanoscale morphologies. A diverse set of chemical reactions are now available which can alter a polymer's composition and can provide access to a rich landscape of tailorable morphologies in both solution and bulk. In this review, we highlight advances in RIPTs that rely upon functionalization, deprotection, conjugation, chain-scission, grafting, and polymerization to induce disorder-to-order or order-to-order phase transitions in situ. To date, polymerization-induced self-assembly is the most well-established RIPT, but only represents one of a broader family of reactions for inducing macromolecular organization. This contribution explores the wider field of chemical reactions for inducing macromolecular self-assembly or reorganization and takes a comprehensive look at significant and recent developments in this flourishing area of research.