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Overcoming Kinetic Trapping for Morphology Evolution during Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly
Author(s) -
Li Dan,
Huo Meng,
Liu Lei,
Zeng Min,
Chen Xi,
Wang Xiaosong,
Yuan Jinying
Publication year - 2019
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.201900202
Subject(s) - methacrylate , copolymer , monomer , polymerization , polymer chemistry , materials science , morphology (biology) , chemical engineering , vesicle , methyl methacrylate , chemistry , polymer , membrane , biochemistry , biology , engineering , composite material , genetics
Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) is a powerful technique to synthesize assemblies with various morphologies. However, PISA mediated by long, stabilizing chains usually produces kinetically trapped spheres; thus, the morphology evolution remains a challenge. Here, a convenient and general strategy for facilitating the morphological evolution by the copolymerization of solvophilic monomers is reported. With the incorporation of only 7% (molar ratio) solvophilic 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TESPMA) into poly( N , N ‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐ b ‐poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PDMA‐ b ‐PBzMA) spheres, PDMA‐ b ‐P(BzMA‐ co ‐TESPMA) assemblies evolve from spheres to worms, octopi‐like and jellyfish‐like structures, vesicles, and large compound vesicles. This non‐specific effect is further confirmed by the copolymerization of BzMA with other solvophilic monomers, including N , N ‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMA), N , N ‐diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEA), and 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA). This work provides a convenient approach to promote morphology evolution and develops the formulations design of PISA.