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Self‐Assembly of Rod‐Coil Block Copolymers on Carbon Nanotubes: A Route toward Diverse Surface Nanostructures
Author(s) -
Han Yang,
Cai Chunhua,
Lin Jiaping,
Gong Shuting,
Xu Wenheng,
Hu Rui
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.201800080
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , ethylene glycol , nanostructure , carbon nanotube , nanotechnology , self assembly , chemical engineering , polymerization , solvent , adsorption , polymer chemistry , composite material , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
In this work, it is reported that poly(γ‐benzyl‐ l ‐glutamate)‐ block ‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG‐ b ‐PEG) rod‐coil block copolymers (BCPs) can disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution and form various surface nanostructures on the CNTs via solution self‐assembly. In an organic solvent that dissolves the BCPs, the PBLG rod blocks adsorb on CNT surfaces, and the BCPs form conformal coatings. Then, by the introduction of water, a selective solvent for PEG blocks, the BCPs in the coatings further self‐assemble into diverse surface nanostructures, such as helices (left‐handed or right‐handed), gyros, spheres, and rings. The morphology of the surface nanostructure can be tailored by initial organic solvent composition, preparation temperature, feeding ratio of BCPs to CNTs, degree of polymerization of PBLG blocks, and diameter of the CNTs.