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Supramolecular “Step Polymerization” of Preassembled Micelles: A Study of “Polymerization” Kinetics
Author(s) -
Yang Chaoying,
Ma Xiaodong,
Lin Jiaping,
Wang Liquan,
Lu Yingqing,
Zhang Liangshun,
Cai Chunhua,
Gao Liang
Publication year - 2018
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.201700701
Subject(s) - polymerization , micelle , dissipative particle dynamics , supramolecular chemistry , kinetics , materials science , copolymer , polymer chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , polymer , crystallography , crystal structure , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , physics , quantum mechanics
In nature, sophisticated functional materials are created through hierarchical self‐assembly of nanoscale motifs, which has inspired the fabrication of man‐made materials with complex architectures for a variety of applications. Herein, a kinetic study on the self‐assembly of spindle‐like micelles preassembled from polypeptide graft copolymers is reported. The addition of dimethylformamide and, subsequently, a selective solvent (water) can generate a “reactive point” at both ends of the spindles as a result of the existence of structural defects, which induces the “polymerization” of the spindles into nanowires. Experimental results combined with dissipative particle dynamics simulations show that the polymerization of the micellar subunits follows a step‐growth polymerization mechanism with a second‐order reaction characteristic. The assembly rate of the micelles is dependent on the subunit concentration and on the activity of the reactive points. The present work reveals a law governing the self‐assembly kinetics of micelles with structural defects and opens the door for the construction of hierarchical structures with a controllable size through supramolecular step polymerization.