Amphiphilic polymer gel electrolytes. I. preparation of gels based on poly(ethylene oxide) graft copolymers containing different ionophobic groups

Amphiphilic graft copolymers were prepared via the radical copolymerization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomers with fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon acrylates in toluene with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. ¹H NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the composition of the graft copolymers corresponded well to the monomer feed. For gel electrolytes prepared from the amphiphilic copolymers, the nature of the ionophobic parts of the amphiphilic graft copolymers had a great influence on the ion conductivity. Gel electrolytes based on graft copolymers containing fluorocarbon side chains showed significantly higher ion conductivity than electrolytes based on graft copolymers containing hydrocarbon groups. The ambient‐temperature ion conductivity was about 2.6 mS/cm at 20 °C for a gel electrolyte based on an amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of an acrylate backbone carrying PEO and fluorocarbon side chains. Corresponding gels based on graft copolymers with PEO side chains and hydrocarbon groups showed an ambient‐temperature ion conductivity of about 1.2 mS/cm. The gel electrolytes contained 30 wt % copolymer and 70 wt % 1 M LiPF₆ in an ethylene carbonate/γ‐butyrolactone (2/1 w/w) mixture. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2223–2232, 2001     

Preparation of organic/inorganic hybrid nanomaterials using aggregates of poly(stearyl methacrylate)-b-poly(3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate) as precursor

A novel brush-type amphiphilic copolymer of PSMA-b-PTMSPMA was synthesized via ATRP technique. As-synthesized polymer was characterized by GPC and ¹H NMR. It was of interest that the resultant polymer could self-assemble into micelles with different morphologies and sizes in selective solvents by adjusting the copolymer concentrations. These aggregates could be prepared into novel stable organic/inorganic hybrid nanomaterials by the gelation process. The size and structure of these aggregates and the corresponding hybrid nanomaterials were observed by TEM.     

催化链转移聚合制备接枝型两亲共聚物及其溶液性质研究

采用大分子单体法制备接枝型两亲共聚物, 通过表面张力仪、偏光显微镜、旋转流变仪和小角X射线衍射研究了两亲共聚物在水溶液中的聚集行为及其相结构. 首先末端带有可聚合双键的聚甲基丙烯酸叔丁酯大分子单体(PtBMA Macromonomer)通过催化链转移聚合法制备, 所用到的催化链转移剂为二水合双(二氟化硼苯二酮肟)合钴(II) (COPhBF). 然后将所得到的大分子单体与丙烯酸正丁酯(BA)进行自由基共聚得到接枝共聚物PBA-g-PtBMA, PBA-g-PtBMA中PtBMA的侧链部分在酸性条件下定量水解成聚甲基丙烯酸(PMAA)并用NaOH中和得到主链疏水侧链亲水的接枝型两亲共聚物PBA-g-P(MAA^－Na^＋). 用Wilhelmy吊片法研究了不同浓度的两亲共聚物水溶液的表面张力, 发现其行为与小分子表面活性剂不同. 同时用动态光散射法测量了两亲共聚物水溶液中聚集体的粒度, 发现在研究的浓度范围内(0.02～10 g/L)聚集体都存在两个粒度分布峰(约30和300 nm). 浓溶液(w＝37.5%)的偏光显微照片呈现层状液晶的特征图案, 而流变研究表明此时体系具有明显的粘弹性, 说明体系形成了层状液晶. 并且用小角度X射线衍射测定了层状液晶的层间距, 约为12.6 nm.     

Efficient synthesis of single gold nanoparticle hybrid amphiphilic triblock copolymers and their controlled self-assembly

We report on a robust approach to the size-selective and template-free synthesis of asymmetrically functionalized ultrasmall (<4 nm) gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stably anchored with a single amphiphilic triblock copolymer chain per NP. Directed NP self-assembly in aqueous solution can be facilely accomplished to afford organic/inorganic hybrid micelles, vesicles, rods, and large compound micelles by taking advantage of the rich microphase separation behavior of the as-synthesized AuNP hybrid amphiphilic triblock copolymers, PEO-AuNP-PS, which act as the polymer-metal-polymer analogue of conventional amphiphilic triblock copolymers. Factors affecting the size-selective fabrication and self-assembly characteristics and the time-dependent morphological evolution of NP assemblies were thoroughly explored.     

Transparent titanium dioxide/block copolymer modified epoxy-based systems in the long scale microphase separation threshold

Microphase separated epoxy-based materials modified with an amphiphilic poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (PS-b-PEO) with low amount of PEO-block as well as ternary systems modified with this block copolymer and containing via sol–gel in situ synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. The obtained results indicate that block copolymer had enough amount of PEO-block in order to achieve microphase separated materials for a high range of PS-b-PEO contents, morphologies changing from spherical micelles to long wormlike micelles passing through vesicles upon increasing copolymer amounts. In the case of 20 wt.% inorganic/organic epoxy-based materials, addition of synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles into PS-b-PEO-(DGEBA/MCDEA) system led to location of the nanoparticles in PEO-block/epoxy-rich confined between two microphase separated PS-block-rich phases. Designed highly transparent multiphase inorganic/organic epoxy-based materials possess interesting specific properties such as high UV shielding efficiency and high water repellence.     

Hierarchical nanoparticle/block copolymer surface features via synergistic self-assembly at the air-water interface

This work demonstrates the first example of the controlled organization of semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs) using amphiphilic block copolymer self-assembly at the air-water interface. Preferential interactions between polystyrene-functionalized NPs and the polystyrene block of an amphiphilic polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer result in synergistic self-assembly at the air-water interface, forming a range of highly stable one-dimensional NP/polymer surface features, including branched nanowires, nanocables up to 100 microm in length, and nanowires with nanoring connectors. This strategy offers new routes to hierarchical hybrid assemblies with potential photonics applications because the nanoscale organization of NPs is coupled to features with dimensions that are commensurate with optical wavelengths.     

Formation of new hybrid structures: Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript>–amphiphilic copolymer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone with (di)methacrylates in isopropyl alcohol

New hybrid structures of fullerene C₆₀ and an amphiphilic copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone with lauryl methacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate have been obtained via solubilization of fullerene by individual macromolecules and their micelle-like aggregates that form in isopropyl alcohol. The volume ratios of copolymer and C₆₀ solutions in toluene at which there is suppression of aggregation of fullerene and fullerene–polymer particles and the existence of stable hybrid structures in solution have been found. With the use of absorption electron spectroscopy, it has been shown that, with time, fullerene undergoes binding to donor groups of the copolymer and forms a donor–acceptor complex. According to the data of optical microscopy, fullerene is homogeneously distributed as spherical aggregates in the solid polymer matrix.     

Emulsion stabilization and inversion using a pH- and temperature-sensitive amphiphilic copolymer

We describe how a versatile amphiphilic diblock copolymer can form oil-in-water (o/w) or water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions depending on pH and temperature. At high pH and temperature, this copolymer is mostly hydrophobic and forms w/o emulsions. Its spontaneous curvature is greatly increased upon pH and/or temperature lowering (due to protonation and/or hydration, respectively), which allows the formation of o/w emulsions. Conductivity measurements and confocal fluorescence micrographs evidence the two kinds of structures obtained over a wide range of pH and temperature. We also show how the emulsion type can be reversibly switched along a temperature scan under stirring. The lower stability of the w/o emulsions as compared to the o/w ones is attributed to a lack of electrostatic repulsion. The importance of the copolymer architecture and conformation with regards to droplet stability is discussed.     

pH-responsive amphiphilic hybrid random-type copolymers of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(acrylate-POSS): synthesis by ATRP and self-assembly in aqueous solution

The synthesis and subsequent self-assembly of novel, random-type amphiphilic pH-responsive hybrid copolymers, having acrylic acid as pH-responsive hydrophilic and acrylate-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as hydrophobic constituents are reported. The synthesis was carried out in two steps: first, t-butylacrylate and acrylate-POSS are copolymerized by ATRP, followed by the acid hydrolysis of t-butyl acrylate constituents of the synthesized poly(t-butylacrylate)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS) copolymers to achieve poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS). It was found that POSS is a powerful hydrophobic unit. With very low POSS concentration in the copolymers, i.e., one POSS unit per 40 to 110 acrylic acid repeat units, the obtained amphiphilic hybrid copolymers could self-assemble in aqueous solution to form nanoaggregates, as revealed by the laser light scattering and fluorescence studies on the aqueous solutions of the obtained copolymers. The formation of hydrophobic core in the self-assembled aggregates is verified by the solubilization of pyrene (used as probe in fluorescence measurements) in aqueous solution of the copolymers. In addition to pH-dependent self-assembly behavior, it is also demonstrated that the particle size and aggregation number of the aggregates can be tuned simply by varying the composition of the copolymer, i.e., by changing the molar ratio of poly(acrylic acid) to poly(acrylate-POSS) in the copolymer. Finally, preliminary results on the influence of salt (NaCl) on the self-assembly of poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(acrylate-POSS) in aqueous solution are also presented.     

Preparation of Quaternary Amphiphilic Block Copolymer PMA-b-P (NVP/MAH/St) and Its Application in Surface Modification of Aluminum Nitride Powders

Poly(methyl acrylate)-b-poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone/maleic anhydride/styrene) (PMA-b-P (NVP/MAH/St)) quaternary amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) was used to improve the anti-hydrolysis and dispersion properties of aluminum nitride (AIN) powders that were modified by copolymers. Its structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Hydrogen nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). The results demonstrate that the molecular weight distribution of the quaternary amphiphilic block copolymers is 1.35–1.60, which is characteristic of controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. Through charge transfer complexes, NVP/MAH/St produces a regular alternating arrangement structure. After being treated with micro-crosslinking, AlN powder modified by copolymer PMA-b-P(NVP/MAH/St) exhibits outstanding resistance to hydrolysis and can be stabilized in hot water at 50 °C for more than 14 h, and the agglomeration of powder particles was improved remarkably.     

Synthesis,characterization, and temperature‐responsive behaviors of novel hybrid amphiphilic block copolymers containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Organic/inorganic hybrid amphiphilic block copolymer poly(methacrylate isobutyl POSS)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PMAPOSS‐b‐P(NIPAM‐co‐OEGMA)) was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The self‐assembly behavior of this block copolymer in aqueous solution was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the novel block copolymer can self‐assemble into spherical micelles with PMAPOSS segment as the hydrophobic part and P(NIPAM‐co‐OEGMA) segment as the hydrophilic part. The temperature‐responsive characteristics of the assemblies were tested by UV–Vis spectra and DLS. Some factors such as the concentration, molecular weight, and copolymer generation that may affect the cloud point were studied systematically. The results reveal that this copolymer exhibits a sharp and intensive lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The essentially predetermined LCST can be conveniently achieved by adjusting the content of NIPAM or OEGMA domain. In addition, these novel hybrid micelles can undergo an association/disassociation cycle with the heating and cooling of solution and the degree of reversibility displaying a tremendous concentration dependence, as a novel organic/inorganic hybrid material with distinctive virtues can be potentially used in biological and medical fields, especially in drug nanocarriers for targeted therapy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

聚丙烯酸接枝辛基酚聚氧乙烯醚的合成、表征和胶束化

通过自由基聚合, 丙烯酸(AA)与辛基酚聚氧乙烯醚丙烯酸酯活性大单体(C8PhEO10Ac)共聚,合成了以聚丙烯酸为主链、C8PhEO10Ac 为支链的水溶性两亲接枝共聚物(PAA-g-C8PhEO10Ac), 用凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)测定其相对数均分子质量为4.37×10⁴, 用FTIR和1H-NMR表征了共聚物的结构和组成, 共聚物分子中丙烯酸单体与活性大单体的摩尔比为9:1, 每个共聚物分子中平均约有32个C8PhEO10侧链. 用表面张力法、荧光探针法和透射电子显微镜对共聚物在水溶液中的自组装行为进行了初步研究, 结果表明, 共聚物分子在第一临界胶束浓度cmc1)和第二临界胶束浓度(cmc2)时都形成了球型胶束. 与cmc1时相比, cmc2时溶液表面张力进一步降低, 胶束内部极性进一步减小, 而且胶束粒径增大、结构紧密. 氯化钠的加入可使共聚物溶液的表面张力和胶束内部极性降低.     

The Hybrids of Polystyrene-block-Poly(ethylene Oxide) Micelles and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate in Aqueous Solutions: Interaction with Rh Ions and Rh Nanoparticle Formation

The interaction of amphiphilic block copolymer, polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO), with anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), in aqueous media has been studied by sedimentation in ultracentrifuge. Three well-defined populations of hybrid aggregates corresponding to micelles, micellar clusters, and supermicellar aggregates were detected in the PS-b-PEO/SDS aqueous solutions at various rotation rates. Parameters of all the micellar aggregates were characterized depending on the SDS loading. An increase in the SDS loading was found to result in an increase in block copolymer/surfactant micelle size and weight at the SDS concentration of 0.8x10(-3) mol/L and in a slight decrease of both parameters at critical micelle concentration and at higher concentration. This decrease was caused by incorporation of SDS molecules in block copolymer micelles followed by charging the PS core and repulsion between similar charges. Using dichlorotetrapyridine rhodium(III)chloride hexahydrate ([Rh(Py)(4)Cl(2)]Clx6H(2)O), ion exchange of surfactant counterions in the hybrid PS-b-PEO/SDS system for Rh cations was carried out, which allowed saturating the micellar structures with Rh species. Subsequent reduction of the Rh-containing hybrid solutions with NaBH(4) resulted in the formation of Rh nanoparticles with a diameter of 2-3 nm mainly located in the block copolymer micellar aggregates. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Chitosan-graft-poly(L-glutamic acid) Hybrid Material and Its Self-assembly

Chitosan-graft-poly(L-glutamic acid)(CS-g-PGA) copolymer was successfully synthesized by grafting polymerization of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride onto the modified chitosan chains. The self-assembly behavior of such a CS-g-PGA amphiphilic copolymer was studied. The results show that spherical nanoparticles have been formed. The size of CS-g-PGA nanoparticles is found to be controlled by the grafting ratio of PGA. These bio-based polysaccharide/polypeptide hybrid nanoparticles with controllable size may have great potential application in biomedical fields, such as drug delivery systems.     

Micelle-assisted synthesis of PANI nanoparticles and application as particulate emulsifier

Well-defined water-dispersible polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of an amphiphilic P(AMPS-co-VM) copolymer micelle. P(AMPS-co-VM) copolymer was prepared by the free radical polymerization of 7-(4-vinylbenzyloxyl)-4-methyl-coumarin (VM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) which can self-assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. Here, P(AMPS-co-VM) copolymer micelle is used not only as soft template but also as acid dopant in our reaction system. The structure, size, and morphology of PANI nanoparticles were characterized by various experimental techniques. It is found that the morphology and the size of the PANI nanoparticles strongly depend on the molecular characteristics of the P(AMPS-co-VM) copolymer. The synthesized PANI nanoparticles behaved as particulate emulsifier for the stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions.     

An Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Polymer

Poly(N-acetylethylenimine) (polyoxazoline) (POZO) with a terminal triethoxysilyl group was successfully synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline followed by termination with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Triethoxysilyl-terminated telechelic POZO was prepared by using a bifunctional initiator. These silane coupling POZOs were subjected to acid-catalyzed cohydrolysis polymerization with tetraethoxysilane by the so-called “sol-gel” method to produce a novel organic/inorganic hybrid polymer (block copolymer), which was a homogeneous transparent/glassy composite material. The obtained hybrid showed higher hydrophilic properties compared with silica gel without POZO segments. On the other hand, a hybrid polymer consisting of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and silica gel, which absorbed both water and organic solvents, showed amphiphilic properties. POZO segments were eliminated by pyrolysis of the present hybrid polymer to produce a silica with micropores.     

Drug-loaded and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle surface-embedded amphiphilic block copolymer micelles for integrated chemotherapeutic drug delivery and MR imaging

We report on the fabrication of organic/inorganic hybrid micelles of amphiphilic block copolymers physically encapsulated with hydrophobic drugs within micellar cores and stably embedded with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles within hydrophilic coronas, which possess integrated functions of chemotherapeutic drug delivery and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast enhancement. Poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(glycerol monomethacrylate), PCL-b-PGMA, and PCL-b-P(OEGMA-co-FA) amphiphilic block copolymers were synthesized at first by combining ring-opening polymerization (ROP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and post- modification techniques, where OEGMA and FA are oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate and folic acid-bearing moieties, respectively. A model hydrophobic anticancer drug, paclitaxel (PTX), and 4 nm SPIO nanoparticles were then loaded into micellar cores and hydrophilic coronas, respectively, of mixed micelles fabricated from PCL-b-PGMA and PCL-b-P(OEGMA-co-FA) diblock copolymers by taking advantage of the hydrophobicity of micellar cores and strong affinity between 1,2-diol moieties in PGMA and Fe atoms at the surface of SPIO nanoparticles. The controlled and sustained release of PTX from hybrid micelles was achieved, exhibiting a cumulative release of ~61% encapsulated drugs (loading content, 8.5 w/w%) over ~130 h. Compared to that of surfactant-stabilized single SPIO nanoparticles (r(2) = 28.3 s(-1) mM(-1) Fe), the clustering of SPIO nanoparticles within micellar coronas led to considerably enhanced T(2) relaxivity (r(2) = 121.1 s(-1) mM(-1) Fe), suggesting that hybrid micelles can serve as a T(2)-weighted MR imaging contrast enhancer with improved performance. Moreover, preliminary experiments of in vivo MR imaging were also conducted. These results indicate that amphiphilic block copolymer micelles surface embedded with SPIO nanoparticles at the hydrophilic corona can act as a new generation of nanoplatform integrating targeted drug delivery, controlled release, and disease diagnostic functions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In situ</Emphasis> synthesis of block copolymer nano-assemblies by polymerization-induced self-assembly under heterogeneous condition

Controlled synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymer nanoparticles in a convenient way is an important and interest topic in polymer science. In this review, three formulations of polymerization-induced self-assembly to in situ synthesize block copolymer nanoparticles are briefly introduced, which perform by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under heterogeneous conditions, e.g., aqueous emulsion RAFT polymerization, dispersion RAFT polymerization and especially the recently proposed seeded RAFT polymerization. The latest developments in several selected areas on the synthesis of block copolymer nano-assemblies are highlighted.     

Complexation and eutectic crystallization in poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) and pentadecylphenol mixtures

Crystallization behavior via hydrogen bonding interaction in amphiphilic block copolymer/surfactant mixtures consisting of poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (P2VP-PCL) and 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The P2VP-PCL/PDP mixtures exhibit eutectic crystallization behavior; the eutectic composition is approximately at 70 wt.% PDP. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) observation revealed the microphase structure in the P2VP-PCL/PDP mixtures and the unique eutectic morphology at the eutectic composition, which was further confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results. To our knowledge, this is the first example of eutectic crystallization observed in amphiphilic block copolymer/surfactant systems. The FTIR study proved that there are competitive hydrogen bonding interactions between P2VP block/PDP and PCL block/PDP pairs in the P2VP-PCL/PDP mixtures. On the basis of the SPM results and FTIR study, a model describing the microstructure of the P2VP-PCL/PDP eutectic mixtures is proposed. The amorphous P2VP blocks are expelled from the ordered eutectic lamellae formed by the crystalline PCL blocks and PDP, which deviates remarkably from the existing structural model proposed by other authors for poly(vinyl pyridine)/PDP and poly(styrene-block-4-vinyl pyridine)/PDP mixtures.     

Nitrogen monoxide storage and sensing applications of transition metal–doped boron nitride nanotubes: a DFT investigation

The structural properties, electronic properties, and adsorption abilities for nitrogen monoxide (NO) molecule adsorption on pristine and transition metal (TM = V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ta, W, and Re) doping on B or N site of armchair (5,5) single-walled boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) were investigated using the density functional theory method. The binding energies of TM-doped BNNTs reveal that the Mo atom doping exhibits the strongest binding ability with BNNT. In addition, the NO molecule weakly interacts with the pristine BNNT, whereas it has a strong adsorption ability on TM-doped BNNTs. The increase in the adsorption ability of NO molecule onto the TM-doped BNNTs is due to the geometrical deformation on TM doping site and the charge transfer between TM-doped BNNTs and NO molecule. Moreover, a significant decrease in energy gap of the BNNT after TM doping is expected to be an available strategy for improving its electrical conductivity. These observations suggest that NO adsorption and sensing ability of BNNT could be greatly improved by introducing appropriate TM dopant. Therefore, TM-doped BNNTs may be a useful guidance to be storage and sensing materials for the detection of NO molecule.