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Direct Synthesis of Polymer Nanotubes by Aqueous Dispersion Polymerization of a Cyclodextrin/Styrene Complex
Author(s) -
Chen Xi,
Liu Lei,
Huo Meng,
Zeng Min,
Peng Liao,
Feng Anchao,
Wang Xiaosong,
Yuan Jinying
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201709129
Subject(s) - polystyrene , copolymer , polymerization , materials science , nanotube , styrene , monomer , polymer , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , dispersion (optics) , dispersion polymerization , amphiphile , cyclodextrin , nanomaterials , aqueous solution , nanostructure , vesicle , nanotechnology , chemistry , carbon nanotube , organic chemistry , membrane , composite material , biochemistry , physics , optics , engineering
A one‐step synthesis of nanotubes by RAFT dispersion polymerization of cyclodextrin/styrene (CD/St) complexes directly in water is presented. The resulted amphiphilic PEG‐b‐PS diblock copolymers self‐assemble in situ into nanoparticles with various morphologies. Spheres, worms, lamellae, and nanotubes were controllably obtained. Because of the complexation, the swelling degree of polystyrene (PS) blocks by free St is limited, resulting in limited mobility of PS chains. Consequently, kinetically trapped lamellae and nanotubes were obtained instead of spherical vesicles. During the formation of nanotubes, small vesicles first formed at the ends of the tape‐like lamellae, then grew and fused into nanotubes with a limited chain rearrangement. The introduction of a host–guest interaction based on CDs enables the aqueous dispersion polymerization of water‐immiscible monomers, and produces kinetically trapped nanostructures, which could be a powerful technique for nanomaterials synthesis.