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Branched Aggregates with Tunable Morphology via Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Azobenzene‐Derived Molecular Double Brushes
Author(s) -
Xu Binbin,
Qian Hongyu,
Zhang Ling,
Lin Shaoliang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202106321
Subject(s) - azobenzene , isomerization , materials science , nanostructure , amphiphile , self assembly , acrylate , morphology (biology) , side chain , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , polymer , catalysis , biology , engineering , composite material , genetics
Hierarchical self‐assembly is one of the most effective approaches to fabricate nature‐inspired materials with subtle nanostructures. We report a distinct hierarchical self‐assembly process of molecular double brushes (MDBs) with each graft site carrying a poly(azobenzene‐acrylate) (PAzo) chain and a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain. Asymmetric tapered worm (ATW) nanostructures with chain‐end reactivity assembling from the azobenzene‐derived MDBs serve as primary subunits to prepare branched supermicelles by increasing water content ( C w ) in THF/water. Various natural Antedon ‐shaped multiarm worm‐like aggregates (MWAs) can be created via the particle–particle connection of ATWs. Intriguingly, the azobenzene moieties undergo trans – cis isomerization upon UV irradiation and further promote a morphology evolution of MWAs. Multiscale supermicelles comprised of starfish shapes with differing central body and arm morphologies (e.g., compare to the biological specimens Luidia ciliaris and Crossaster papposus ) were prepared by manipulating irradiation time.