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Quadrangular Prism: A Unique Self‐Assembly from Amphiphilic Hyperbranched PMA‐ b ‐PAA
Author(s) -
Xue Xiaoqiang,
Li Fang,
Huang Wenyan,
Yang Hongjun,
Jiang Bibiao,
Zheng Yiliang,
Zhang Dongliang,
Fang Jianbo,
Kong Lizhi,
Zhai Guangqun,
Chen Jianhai
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300743
Subject(s) - copolymer , micelle , acrylic acid , polymer chemistry , amphiphile , acrylate , self assembly , materials science , radical polymerization , polymerization , polymer , monomer , hydrolysis , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , composite material , engineering
The novel hyperbranched poly(methyl acrylate)‐ block ‐poly(acrylic acid)s (HBPMA‐ b ‐PAAs) are successfully synthesized via single‐electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), followed with hydrolysis reaction. The copolymer solution could spontaneously form unimolecular micelles composed of the hydrophobic core (PMA) and the hydrophilic shell (PAA) in water. Results show that the size of spherical particles increases from 8.18 to 19.18 nm with increased pH from 3.0 to 12.0. Most interestingly, the unique regular quadrangular prisms with the large microstructure (5.70 μm in length, and 0.47 μm in width) are observed by the self‐assembly of unimolecular micelles when pH value is below 2. Such self‐assembly behavior of HBPMA‐ b ‐PAA in solution is significantly influenced by the pH cycle times and concentration, which show that increased polymer concentration favors aggregate growth.