Journal article
Self-assembly of an ultra-high-molecular-weight comb block copolymer at the air-water interface
Soft Matter, Vol.5(23), pp.4698-4703
08/14/2009
DOI: 10.1039/b912447k
Abstract
The self-assembly of a newly synthesized, amphiphilic comb block copolymer (CBCP) at the air-water interface was systematically explored using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. The CBCP had an ultra-high molecular weight (
M
w
= 510 × 10
3
g mol
−1
) with polystyrene arms grafted along one block of long hydrophilic backbone. At the air-water interface, the CBCP molecules spontaneously assembled into ribbon-like structures and cellular patterns at zero surface pressure when a volatile solvent (
i.e.
, chloroform) and a less volatile solvent (
i.e.
, toluene) were used, respectively. This spontaneous self-assembly behavior of the CBCP was induced by the dewetting process. The mechanism for the morphological change as a function of surface pressure was scrutinized and further confirmed by compression-expansion cycle and solvent vapor annealing studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of self-assembly of ultra-high-molecular-weight, amphiphilic CBCPs at the air-water interface. As such, it provides insight into the design of controllable pattern formation using amphiphilic copolymers.
The intriguing self-assembly at the air-water interface of a newly synthesized, amphiphilic comb block copolymer, with ultra-high molecular weight, was systematically explored.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Self-assembly of an ultra-high-molecular-weight comb block copolymer at the air-water interface
- Creators
- Lei ZhaoMatthew D GoodmanNed B BowdenZhiqun Lin
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Soft Matter, Vol.5(23), pp.4698-4703
- DOI
- 10.1039/b912447k
- ISSN
- 1744-683X
- eISSN
- 1744-6848
- Date published
- 08/14/2009
- Academic Unit
- Chemistry
- Record Identifier
- 9984217456302771
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