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Phase Separated Block Copolymer Particles with Tuneable Morphologies: Striped, Onion, and Patchy Particles

Chao Chen A , Zeyun Xiao A and Luke A. Connal A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: luke.connal@unimelb.edu.au

Australian Journal of Chemistry 69(7) 741-745 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH16033
Submitted: 21 January 2016  Accepted: 26 February 2016   Published: 20 April 2016

Abstract

The aqueous solution self-assembly of a series of poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (P2VP-b-PDMS) diblock copolymers is reported. The particles show a phase separated interior morphology which can be tuned from onion-like sphere to axially stacked lamella with dimensions in the nanoscale. The key to this transition is the control of the interfacial properties using a mixture of two surfactants with preferential wetting to the respective blocks (P2VP or PDMS). Influence of block weights on particle morphology was investigated with results showing that the volume fraction of PDMS plays a crucial role in self-assembly, and a non-conventional structure of a prolate spheroid nanoparticle with a unique phase separated interior morphology can be synthesised.


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