对称AB两嵌段共聚物在均聚物C中的自组装

通过自洽平均场理论计算,对对称AB两嵌段共聚物在均聚物C中形成的胶束进行了研究. 在C对A、B组分没有选择性相互作用的情况下,我们观察到了两嵌段共聚物所形成的胶束形状为各向异性的、由间隔A/B层相区构成的类椭球结构. 我们系统考察了胶束的长短径之比与胶束体积、组分间相互作用、均聚物长度之间的关系. 结果表明,当固定组分间相互作用时,胶束的长短径之比随体积变大而减小;当体积增大至一临界值,胶束层数增加,长短径之比发生突变并增大. 给定胶束的结构和体积,增加两嵌段共聚物的不相容性,胶束长短径之比增加并且最终趋于平缓;当固定相互作用及胶束体积时,均聚物的长度越小,长短径之比越大.     

环形两嵌段共聚物在软受限条件下自组装行为的Monte Carlo模拟

本文采用Monte Carlo模拟方法考察了环形两嵌段共聚物在软受限条件下的自组装行为。模拟结果表明通过调节嵌段比例,AB环形两嵌段共聚物能够在软受限条件下形成A、B呈交替排列层状相的蛹状粒子,A嵌段呈条带状环绕B相区的椭球粒子以及A嵌段呈块状六角堆积排布的补丁状粒子等多种有序结构。通过考察嵌段间的不相容性和嵌段的疏水性对体系聚集体形貌结构和自组装过程的影响,模拟结果给出了补丁状粒子这一具有特殊有序结构粒子的形成条件,即嵌段的疏水性较弱或不同种嵌段间的不相容性较强的体系中,少组分嵌段A易于在多组分嵌段B形成的连续相中形成具有块状微相结构的补丁状粒子。上述模拟结果能够为人们对环形两嵌段共聚物在纳米材料领域的潜在应用提供理论依据和新思路,使人们对环形两嵌段共聚物在三维软受限中的自组装行为有更进一步的了解。     

三嵌段共聚物和两嵌段共聚物在水溶液中共混自组装成多室胶束结构的耗散粒子动力学模拟(英文)

利用耗散粒子动力学模拟研究了在水溶液中混合不同的线形三嵌段共聚物AxByCz和线形两嵌段共聚物AmBn对多室胶束的形貌多样性的影响.通过改变线形的三嵌段共聚物和两嵌段共聚物的链长来寻找多室胶束的形成条件.由线形三嵌段共聚物和线形两嵌段共聚物的不同混合形成的多室胶束结构是多种多样的,例如"蠕虫状"胶束、"汉堡包"胶束、"球上球"胶束、"核-壳-壳"胶束等等.多室胶束的整体形貌和内部结构的控制都可以从线形三嵌段共聚物和两嵌段共聚物的二元共混得到.为了表征获得的多室胶束结构,我们计算了密度图和成对分布函数图.在此工作中,可以获得和观察到复杂的多室胶束.结果表明,简单地混合线形的三嵌段共聚物和线形的两嵌段共聚物是一个控制多室胶束形貌和结构的有效方法,在工程实验中可以更简单更经济地形成多室胶束结构.因此,在设计新的多室胶束方面,聚合物共混仍然是未来值得更加关注的一个话题.     

聚(L-丙氨酸-co-羟丙-L-谷氨酰胺)无规共聚物的两亲性及其胶束行为研究

采用丙氨酸作为疏水聚合单体,谷氨酸作为亲水聚合单体,一步开环聚合反应,合成了具有两亲性的聚氨基酸无规共聚物.利用IR,1H-NMR等方法对所合成的聚合物进行了详细的表征,结果表明两种单体都能够按照投料比参加聚合反应生成无规共聚物.对比聚丙氨酸-聚羟丙谷氨酰胺嵌段共聚物,探讨了无规共聚物与嵌段共聚物在两亲性及结构性质上的差异和特点.研究表明,聚(L-丙氨酸-co-羟丙-L-谷氨酰胺)无规共聚物与嵌段共聚物一样,具有两亲性,在水溶液中也能够形成胶束,但胶束尺寸较嵌段共聚物要小,胶束形态也不像嵌段共聚物是规整的球形.实验发现,亲疏水单体的比例对胶束的形成有很大影响,P(A10-co-HPG40)所制得的胶束分散最为均匀.所形成的胶束以疏水的聚丙氨酸为内核,亲水的聚羟丙谷氨酰胺为外壳.     

环形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为模拟简

利用Monte Carlo模拟,对比了相同组成下环形二嵌段共聚物AB和线形三嵌段共聚物ABA在选择性溶剂中的胶束化行为. 结果发现,相同链组成的环形和线形嵌段共聚物的临界胶束浓度(cmc)的差别与A嵌段的比例(fA)及B嵌段间的吸引强度(ε)密切相关. 在fA较小、ε较大的情况下,相应环形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小;而在fA较大、ε较小的情况下,线形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小. 为了进一步理解胶束化行为同fA及ε的关系,计算了胶束化过程中熵和势能部分对自由能的贡献. 结果表明,在所研究的fA和ε范围内,环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时的熵损失更小,因而从熵贡献角度来看,环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而从势能贡献角度来看,当fA较小、ε较大时,环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低,对自由能的贡献更大,因而此时环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而当fA较大、ε较小时,线形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低,对自由能的贡献更大,因而此时线形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 由此可见,对体系的胶束化自由能进行系统分析,有助于更好地理解环形和线形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为.     

基于非共价键作用的二嵌段共聚物/均聚物超分子体系的自组装行为

采用实空间求解的自洽场理论,研究了两亲性二嵌段共聚物(AB)/均聚物(C)超分子体系在溶液中的自组装行为,其中B疏水嵌段的自由末端与C均聚物的一个末端形成可逆的非共价键.在稀溶液中,AB/C超分子聚合物体系通过自组装形成了一系列不同形貌的胶束,如核-壳-冠的三层胶束和蠕虫状胶束等.研究发现,胶束形貌受到非共价键强度和初...     

用SAXS/WAXS研究聚氧乙烯/聚氧丁烯嵌段共聚物在n-己烷中的结晶性球形胶束结构

嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中能够自组装形成胶束,胶束的不同形状与嵌段共聚物的结构、溶剂和浓度有关．无定形嵌段共聚物通常形成球形胶束,在某些情况下也可以形成其它形状的胶束,关于结晶性嵌段共聚物在无定形链段选择性溶剂中的胶束结构和形状的报道非常少．由于结晶和相似相溶两种作用力的竞争,使得这类胶束的形状丰富多变．通常结晶作用较强时,结晶性嵌段共聚物形成片状的胶束,当结晶组分比较少时,可形成棒状胶束,尽管理论上已经指出存在球形胶束,但尚无关于这方面的报道。     

环形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为模拟

利用Monte Carlo模拟, 对比了相同组成下环形二嵌段共聚物AB和线形三嵌段共聚物ABA在选择性溶剂中的胶束化行为. 结果发现, 相同链组成的环形和线形嵌段共聚物的临界胶束浓度(cmc)的差别与A嵌段的比例(f_A)及B嵌段间的吸引强度(ε)密切相关. 在f_A较小、 ε较大的情况下, 相应环形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小; 而在f_A较大、 ε较小的情况下, 线形嵌段共聚物的cmc值更小. 为了进一步理解胶束化行为同f_A及ε的关系, 计算了胶束化过程中熵和势能部分对自由能的贡献. 结果表明, 在所研究的f_A和ε范围内, 环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时的熵损失更小, 因而从熵贡献角度来看, 环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而从势能贡献角度来看, 当f_A较小、 ε较大时, 环形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低, 对自由能的贡献更大, 因而此时环形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 而当f_A较大、 ε较小时, 线形嵌段共聚物形成胶束时势能有较大程度的降低, 对自由能的贡献更大, 因而此时线形嵌段共聚物更易发生胶束化. 由此可见, 对体系的胶束化自由能进行系统分析, 有助于更好地理解环形和线形嵌段共聚物的胶束化行为.     

ABC三嵌段共聚物的聚合诱导自组装研究

聚合诱导自组装(PISA)是一种在高浓度溶液中可连续大量制备纳米材料的新技术,结合计算模拟方法,研究其动力学过程可强化对PISA的认识和调控.通过耗散粒子动力学(DPD)模拟,研究了ABC三嵌段共聚物的聚合诱导自组装过程.先利用亲溶剂A链段引发B单体聚合,随着疏溶剂B链段的增长,AB二嵌段共聚物可组装并发生聚集体结构的连续转变,由球形胶束→蠕虫状胶束→层状结构→囊泡.再将C单体逐步聚合到AB共聚物上,调控C链段的亲疏溶剂性,可聚合诱导组装或解组装形成不同的ABC三嵌段共聚物聚集体.     

线性ABC三嵌段共聚物在均聚物C中自组装的自洽平均场模拟

应用实空间的自洽平均场理论研究了线性ABC三嵌段共聚物在均聚物C中的自组装. 模拟结果表明, 共聚物在均聚物中形成的分散相主要为核壳结构. 通过降低A与C之间的相互作用, 可以使核壳结构的成核嵌段发生从嵌段A向嵌段B的转变, 并且在转变过程中观察到了多种过渡结构, 包括带有凸起表面的盘状结构和柱状结构以及相互缠绕的柱状结构. 另外, 降低嵌段共聚物中A嵌段在共混体系中的含量有利于形成以B为核的核壳结构.     

Highly Symmetric Patchy Multicompartment Nanoparticles from the Self-Assembly of ABC Linear Terpolymers in C-Selective Solvents

Multicompartment micelles, especially those with highly symmetric surfaces such as patchy-like, patchy, and Janus micelles, have tremendous potential as building blocks of hierarchical multifunctional nanomaterials. One of the most versatile and powerful methods to obtain patchy multicompartment micelles is by the solution-state self-assembly of linear triblock copolymers. In this article, we applied the simulated annealing method to study the self-assembly of ABC linear terpolymers in C-selective solvents. Simulations predict a variety of patchy and patchy-like multicompartment micelles with high symmetry and also yield a detailed phase diagram to reveal how to control the patchy multicompartment micelle morphologies precisely. The phase diagram demonstrates that the internal segregated micellar structure depends on the ratio between the volume fractions of the two solvophobic blocks and their incompatibility, whereas the overall micellar shape depends on the copolymer concentration. The relationship between the interfacial energy, stretching energy of chains and the micellar morphology, micellar morphological transition are elucidated by computing the average contact number among the species, the mean square end-to-end distances of the whole terpolymers, the AB blocks in the terpolymers, the AB diblock copolymers, and angle distribution of terpolymers. The anchoring effect of the solvophilic C block on micellar structures is also examined by comparing the morphologies formed from ABC terpolymers and AB diblock copolymers.     

Morphologies of multicompartment micelles formed by triblock copolymers

Multicompartment micelles are desirable for advanced applications such as drug delivery. Recently, core-shell-corona (CSC) and segmented-worm (SW) micelles formed by ABC triblock terpolymers with three mutually immiscible blocks are observed in experiments. We have performed dissipative particle dynamics simulations to study the effects of molecular architecture, block length, and solution concentration on the morphologies of ABC triblock terpolymers. The formation of CSC and SW micelles for linear and miktoarm star ABC terpolymers is confirmed in this work. In addition, we predict that different multicompartment micellar morphologies (e.g., incomplete skin-layered micelles and segmented worms) can be formed by linear copolymer with different arrangements of the three blocks.     

Study of hierarchical microstructures self-assembled by π-shaped ABC block copolymers in dilute solution using self-consistent field theory

Microstructures self-assembled by amphiphilic ABC π-shaped block copolymers in dilute solution have been investigated by self-consistent field theory. The effects of architectural parameters and the interaction strength among the three blocks have been studied systematically. Our calculation results show that the distance of the two graft blocks has stronger effect than the length of graft blocks and the position of the first graft point on the phase behavior. The interaction strength among the three blocks is another important factor in controlling the resulting microstructures. Compound-core, multicompartment, and multicore micelles are observed in the case of π-shaped ABC block copolymers with hydrophilic backbone block A and hydrophobic graft blocks B and C. Core-shell-corona, incomplete skin-layered and hamburger micelles are formed when graft block C is hydrophilic and blocks A and B are hydrophobic. The wormlike multicore micelles have drawn our attention. We find that the morphology of wormlike multicore micelle can be controlled by changing the distance of the two graft blocks of the π-shaped block copolymers. In all of the wormlike multicore micelles, the streamline wormlike micelle is more stable than other wormlike micelles from the free energy analysis.     

Structural evolution of multicompartment micelles self-assembled from linear ABC triblock copolymer in selective solvents

Using dissipative particle dynamics simulation, structural evolution from concentric multicompartment micelles to raspberry-like multicompartment micelles self-assembled from linear ABC triblock copolymers in selective solvents was investigated. The structural transformation from concentric micelles to raspberry-like micelles can be controlled by changing either the length of B blocks or the solubility of B block. It was found that the structures with B bumps on C surface (B-bump-C) are formed at shorter B block length and the structures with C bumps on B surface (C-bump-B) are formed at relative lower solubility of B blocks. The formation of B-bump-C is entropy-driven, while the formation of C-bump-B is enthalpy-dominated. Furthermore, when the length of C blocks is much lower than that of B blocks, an inner-penetrating vesicle was discovered. The results gained through the simulations provide an insight into the mechanism behind the formation of raspberry-like micelles.     

Facile, solution-based synthesis of soft, nanoscale janus particles with tunable janus balance

We present a novel, versatile, and simple solution-based routine to produce soft, nanosized Janus particles with tunable structural and physical properties at high volume yield. This process is based on the cross-linking of compartments within precisely defined multicompartment micelles (MCMs), which are themselves formed by the self-assembly of ABC triblock terpolymers. Therein, the C blocks form the stabilizing corona emanating from B compartments, which in turn reside on an A core. Cross-linking of the B compartments allows to permanently fixate the phase-separated state and dissolution in a good solvent for all blocks breaks up the MCMs into single Janus particles. They now consist of a core of cross-linked B blocks and two phase-separated hemispheres of A and C. The process gives access to unprecedented structural features such as tunable core diameter and control over the Janus balance ranging from dominant A side to equal hemispheres to dominant C side. We demonstrate that this simple one-pot approach can be extended to a range of triblock terpolymers with different block lengths and block chemistries to furnish a library of tailor-made Janus particles with widely tunable physical properties. Such a diversity and simplicity has remained unreachable with our previously developed approach using the controlled cross-linking of bulk morphologies. We show that this new synthetic route can be upscaled to a high volume yield of 10 wt %, thereby enabling large-scale applications. We further demonstrate the effect of the Janus balance on colloidal self-assembly. Janus particles with a dominant hydrophobic and a small hydrophilic patch aggregate into large clusters in water, but merely di- or trimerize in chloroform.     

Self-assembly of amphiphilic ABC star triblock copolymers and their blends with AB diblock copolymers in solution: self-consistent field theory simulations

The self-assembled morphologies of amphiphilic ABC star triblock copolymers consisting of hydrophilic A blocks and hydrophobic B and C blocks and the blends with their counterpart linear AB diblock copolymers in solution are investigated by 2D real-space implementation of self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation. The star triblock copolymers self-assemble in solution to form various micellar structures from hamburger, to segmented wormlike, to toroidal segmented micelles, and finally to vesicles with simultaneously increasing hydrophobic lengths of blocks B and C. When the length of hydrophobic blocks B and C is asymmetric, specific bead-on-string worm micelles are found. Particularly, when the star ABC triblock copolymer is in a strong segregation regime and both B and C blocks are strongly hydrophobic, quite long segmented wormlike micelles are obtained, which had not been found in previously investigated diblock and linear ABC triblock copolymers solution. Additionally, raspberry micelles with beads dispersed on the core also occur in the strong segregation regime of bulk star ABC triblock copolymers. Furthermore, the aggregate morphology of ABC star triblock copolymers is strongly influenced by the addition of linear AB diblock copolymers. The most significant feature is that the long segmented worms will become shorter, to form hamburger micelles with the addition of AB diblock copolymers. These simulations are in good agreement with the experimental findings by Lodge's group.     

Aggregate morphologies of amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymer in dilute solution using self-consistent field theory

The complex microstructures of amphiphilic ABC linear triblock copolymers in which one of the end blocks is relatively short and hydrophilic, and the other two blocks B and C are hydrophobic in a dilute solution, have been investigated by the real-space implementation of self-consistent field theory (SCFT) in two dimensions (2D). In contrast to diblock copolymers in solution, the aggregation of triblock copolymers are more complicated due to the presence of the second hydrophobic blocks and, hence, big ranges of parameter space controlling the morphology. By tailoring the hydrophobic degree and its difference between the blocks B and C, the various shapes of vesicles, circlelike and linelike micelles possibly corresponding to spherelike, and rodlike micelles in 3D, and especially, peanutlike micelles not found in diblock copolymers are observed. The transition from vesicles to circlelike micelles occurs with increasing the hydrophobicity of the blocks B and C, while the transition from circlelike micelles to linelike micelles or from the mixture of micelles and vesicles to the long linelike micelles takes place when the repulsive interaction of the end hydrophobic block C is stronger than that of the middle hydrophobic block B. Furthermore, it is favorable for dispersion of the block copolymer in the solvent into aggregates when the repulsion of the solvent to the end hydrophobic block is larger than that of the solvent to the middle hydrophobic block. Especially when the bulk block copolymers are in a weak segregation regime, the competition between the microphase separation and macrophase separation exists and the large compound micelle-like aggregates are found due to the macrophase separation with increasing the hydrophobic degree of blocks B and C, which is absent in diblock copolymer solution. The simulation results successfully reproduce the existing experimental ones.     

Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study of the Formation of Multicompartment Micelles from ABC Star Triblock Copolymers in Water

Summary: Dissipative particle dynamics simulation was performed to study the formation of multicompartment micelles from ABC star triblock copolymers in water. The study revealed some new morphologies that had not been observed before and also provided a direct visualization of the evolution of wormlike multicompartment micelles that follows the fusion process. Thus, this work provides molecular understanding of multicompartment micelles which will be useful for the future rational synthesis of novel micelles.

Multicompartment micelles formed from ABC star triblock copolymers in water by DPD simulations.     

Micellar shape change and internal segregation induced by chemical modification of a tryptych block copolymer surfactant

We report the detailed characterization of micelles formed by two nonionic, amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymers. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene)-b-1,2-poly(butadiene) (PEO-b-PS-b-PB) triblock copolymer "OSB" forms core-corona spherical micelles in aqueous solution, and the two hydrophobic blocks S and B are mixed homogeneously within the micelle core. PEO-b-PS-b-PB:C6F13I triblock copolymer "OSF" was prepared by selective fluorination of the B block in OSB with n-perfluorohexyl iodide. Fluorination of the B block induces internal segregation into an inner F core and an intermediate S shell. Furthermore, the strong incompatibility that results from fluorination drives a shape change into an oblate ellipsoid. These micellar morphologies are confirmed by combined light, neutron, and X-ray scattering measurements, as well as TEM imaging.     

Simulation study of aggregate morphologies formed by ABC linear triblock copolymers in a selective solvent through the self‐consistent field theory

The effect of the hydrophobic properties of blocks B and C on the aggregate morphologies formed by ABC linear triblock copolymers in selective solvent was studied through the self‐consistent field theory. Five typical micelles, such as core‐shell‐corona, hamburger‐like, segmented‐wormlike, were obtained by changing the hydrophobic properties of blocks B and C. The simulation results indicate that the shape and size of micelle are basically controlled by the hydrophobic degree of the middle block B, whereas the type of micelle is mainly determined by the hydrophobic degree of the end block C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 484–492, 2009