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Stimuli‐Responsive Aggregation of High Molar Mass Poly( N , N ‐Diethylacrylamide)‐ b ‐Poly(4‐Acryloylmorpholine) in Tetrahydrofuran
Author(s) -
Plucinski Alexander,
Pavlovic Marko,
Clarke Mairi,
Bhella David,
Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.202100656
Subject(s) - copolymer , molar mass , tetrahydrofuran , dynamic light scattering , turbidimetry , polymer , materials science , polymer chemistry , solvent , chemical engineering , transmission electron microscopy , chemistry , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , organic chemistry , chromatography , composite material , engineering
The self‐assembly of block copolymers constitutes a timely research area in polymer science with implications for applications like sensing or drug‐delivery. Here, the unprecedented aggregation behavior of high molar mass block copolymer poly( N , N ‐diethylacrylamide)‐ b ‐poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine) (PDEA‐ b ‐PAM) ( M n >400 kg mol −1 ) in organic solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF) is investigated. To elucidate the aggregation, dynamic light scattering, cryo‐transmission electron microscopy, and turbidimetry are employed. The aggregate formation is assigned to the unprecedented upper critical solution temperature behavior of PAM in THF at elevated concentrations (> 6 wt.%) and high molar masses. Various future directions for this new thermo‐responsive block copolymer are envisioned, for example, in the areas of photonics or templating of inorganic structures.