Premium
Quasi‐Block Copolymers Based on a General Polymeric Chain Stopper
Author(s) -
Sanguramath Rajashekharayya A.,
Nealey Paul F.,
Shenhar Roy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201600478
Subject(s) - copolymer , differential scanning calorimetry , supramolecular chemistry , materials science , monomer , polystyrene , polymer chemistry , chain (unit) , polymer , chemical engineering , block (permutation group theory) , chemistry , molecule , composite material , organic chemistry , mathematics , physics , geometry , astronomy , engineering , thermodynamics
Quasi‐block copolymers (q‐BCPs) are block copolymers consisting of conventional and supramolecular blocks, in which the conventional block is end‐terminated by a functionality that interacts with the supramolecular monomer (a “chain stopper” functionality). A new design of q‐BCPs based on a general polymeric chain stopper, which consists of polystyrene end‐terminated with a sulfonate group (PS‐SO 3 Li), is described. Through viscosity measurements and a detailed diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy study, it is shown that PS‐SO 3 Li can effectively cap two types of model supramolecular monomers to form q‐BCPs in solution. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry data and structural characterization of thin films by scanning force microscopy suggests the existence of the q‐BCP architecture in the melt. The new design considerably simplifies the synthesis of polymeric chain stoppers; thus promoting the utilization of q‐BCPs as smart, nanostructured materials.