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Stimulated Transitions of Directed Nonequilibrium Self‐Assemblies
Author(s) -
Steinschulte Alexander A.,
Scotti Andrea,
Rahimi Khosrow,
Nevskyi Oleksii,
Oppermann Alex,
Schneider Sabine,
Bochenek Steffen,
Schulte Marie F.,
Geisel Karen,
Jansen Felicitas,
Jung Andre,
Mallmann Sabrina,
Winter Roland,
Richtering Walter,
Wöll Dominik,
Schweins Ralf,
Warren Nicholas J.,
Plamper Felix A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201703495
Subject(s) - non equilibrium thermodynamics , metastability , materials science , polymer , thermodynamic equilibrium , autocatalytic reaction , chemical physics , thermodynamics , hydrostatic pressure , statistical physics , nanotechnology , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material
Near‐equilibrium stimulus‐responsive polymers have been used extensively to introduce morphological variations in dependence of adaptable conditions. Far‐less‐well studied are triggered transformations at constant conditions. These require the involvement of metastable states, which are either able to approach the equilibrium state after deviation from metastability or can be frozen on returning from nonequilibrium to equilibrium. Such functional nonequilibrium macromolecular systems hold great promise for on‐demand transformations, which result in substantial changes in their material properties, as seen for triggered gelations. Herein, a diblock copolymer system consisting of a hydrophilic block and a block that is responsive to both pressure and temperature, is introduced. This species demonstrates various micellar transformations upon leaving equilibrium/nonequilibrium states, which are triggered by a temperature deflection or a temporary application of hydrostatic pressure.