Novel organotin-containing diblock copolymer with tunable nanostructures: Synthesis, self-assembly and morphological change

Interesting self-assembly behavior and morphological change of a novel organotin-containing diblock copolymer were firstly reported. The organotin-containing diblock copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(acetoxydibutyltin methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PADBTMA), was prepared via RAFT polymerization of ADBTMA with PMMA as the macroCTA and AIBN as the initiator in toluene. Both the FT-IR and TG analysis revealed an incorporation of both co-monomers in the resulted polymer backbone. The ratio of two segments was determined indirectly by TG analysis, gravimetric method and derivative process. All results from the different methods were well matched. And it was found that the morphology of the diblock copolymer could be changed easily from vesicles to nano-particle or cross-linked nano-composite under the ultrasonication or additional Ph₂SnCl₂, respectively. All the morphologies were analyzed by SEM, TEM and DLS. The self-assembly and the morphological change attributed to the strong coordination action between tin atoms and the carbonyl groups among PADBTMA segments.