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Lyotropic Morphology Transition of Double Zwitterionic Diblock Copolymer Aqueous Solutions
Author(s) -
Takahashi Masaya,
Shimizu Akane,
Yusa Shinichi,
Higaki Yuji
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.202000377
Subject(s) - copolymer , lamellar structure , methacrylate , aqueous solution , polymer , lyotropic , polymer chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , morphology (biology) , nanostructure , polyelectrolyte , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , liquid crystalline , biology , engineering , genetics
Polymer concentration‐dependent aqueous lyotropic morphology transition of a double zwitterionic diblock copolymer composed of a poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCB) and poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSB) is unraveled employing small‐angle X‐ray scattering. Salt‐free aqueous solutions of the well‐defined diblock copolymer produce ordered periodic structure and the morphology transforms from hexagonally close‐packed cylinder to lamellar with decreasing the polymer concentration. The morphology transition is induced by the preferential distribution of water molecules into the PCB domains below threshold polymer concentration because of the limited water capacity of the PSB network domains. The volume fraction modulation causes the instability of phase boundary curvature urging the morphology transition. The precise ordered nanostructure control of the highly biocompatible double zwitterionic block copolymers is valid for responsive biocompatible molecular design in biomaterials.