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Supramolecular Chemistry in the Formation of Self‐Assembled Nanostructures from a High‐Molecular‐Weight Rod–Coil Block Copolymer
Author(s) -
Tu Yingfeng,
Ji Zhichao,
Yang Xiaoming,
Wan Xinhua,
Zhou QiFeng
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.201400381
Subject(s) - micelle , copolymer , supramolecular chemistry , materials science , styrene , polymer chemistry , polymerization , nanostructure , self assembly , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , polymer , molecule , organic chemistry , composite material , aqueous solution , engineering
The self‐assembled nanostructures of a high‐molecular‐weight rod–coil block copolymer, poly(styrene‐ block ‐(2,5‐bis[4‐methoxyphenyl]oxycarbonyl)styrene) (PS‐ b ‐PMPCS), in p ‐xylene are studied. The cylindrical micelles, long segmental cylindrical micelle associates, spherical micelles, and spherical micelle associates are observed with increased copolymer concentration. The high molecular weight of PS leads to the entanglement between PS chains from different micelles, which is the force for supramolecular interactions. Short cylindrical micelles are connected end‐to‐end via this supramolecular chemistry to form long segmental cylindrical micelle associates, analogue to the condensation polymerization process, with direction and saturation. On the other hand, spherical micelles assemble via supramolecular chemistry to form spherical micelle associates, yet without any direction due to their isotropic properties.