Supramolecular nanostructures from self‐assembly of T‐shaped rod building block oligomers

T‐shaped coil–rod–coil oligomers, consisting of a dibenzo[a,c]phenazine unit and phenyl groups linked together with acetylenyl bonds at the 2,7‐position of dibenzo[a,c]phenazine as a rigid segment have been synthesized. The coil segments of these new molecules composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) incorporating lateral methyl groups between the rod and coil segment and two flexible alkyl groups connecting with the rigid segment at the 4,6‐position of dibenzo[a,c]phenazine, respectively. The experimental results reveal that the length of the flexible PEO coil chain influence construction of various supra‐nanostructures from lamellar structure to rectangular columnar structure. It is also shown that introduction of different length of alkyl side chain groups in the backbone of the T‐shaped molecules affect the self‐organization behavior to form hexagonal perforate layer or oblique columnar structures. In addition, lateral methyl groups attached to the surface of rod and coil segments, dramatically influence the self‐assembling behavior in the crystalline phase. T‐shaped molecules containing a lateral methyl group at the surface of rod and PEO coil segments, self‐assemble into 3D body‐centered tetragonal structures in the crystalline phase, while molecules without a lateral methyl group based on PEO coil chain self‐organize into 2D oblique columnar crystalline structures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5021–5028     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of rod‐coil molecules with n‐shaped rod building block

The rod‐coil molecules with n‐shaped rod building block, consisting of an anthracene unit and two biphenyl groups linked together with acetylenyl bonds at the 1,8‐position of anthracene as a rigid rod segment, and the alkyl or alkyloxy chains with various length (i.e., methoxy‐ ( 1 ), octyl‐ ( 2 ), hexadecyl‐ ( 3 )) at the 10‐position of anthracene and poly(ethylene oxide) with the number of repeating units of 7 connected with biphenyl as coil segments were synthesized. The molecular structures were characterized by ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF mass spectroscopy. The self‐assembling behavior of new type of molecules 1–3 was investigated by means of DSC, POM, and SAXS at the bulk state. These molecules with a n‐shaped rod building block segment self‐assemble into supramolecular structures through the combination of π–π stacking of rigid rod building blocks and microphase separation of the rod and coil blocks. SAXS studies reveal that molecules 1 and 2 show hexagonal columnar and rectangular columnar structures in the liquid crystalline phase, respectively; meanwhile, molecules 1–3 self‐organize into lamellar structures in the crystalline state. In addition, self‐assembling studies of molecules 1–3 by DLS and TEM indicated that these molecules self‐assemble into elongated nanofibers in aqueous medium. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1415–1422, 2010     

A Novel Nanocage from the Cooperative Self‐Assembly of Coil–Rod–Coil Triblock Copolymers and Nanopartilces

A Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations are performed to study the cooperative self‐assembly of coil–rod–coil triblock copolymers and nanoparticles in solution. The results show that, when the nanoparticle concentration exceeds a given value, the ternary systems can form a novel nanocage composed of two‐end coil‐caps and middle rod‐linkers. The novel nanocage is very similar to the real bird cage and the captured nanoparticles like the bird. It is the first nanocage from the self‐assembly of coil–rod–coil triblock copolymers. This may be used for the release of drugs and fertilizers, or as nanoreactors.

     

Recent advances in the solution self‐assembly of amphiphilic “rod‐coil” copolymers

Solution self‐assembly of amphiphilic “rod‐coil” copolymers, especially linear block copolymers and graft copolymers (also referred to as polymer brushes), has attracted considerable interest, as replacing one of the blocks of a coil‐coil copolymer with a rigid segment results in distinct self‐assembly features compared with those of the coil‐coil copolymer. The unique interplay between microphase separation of the rod and coil blocks with great geometric disparities can lead to the formation of unusual morphologies that are distinctly different from those known for coil‐coil copolymers. This review presents the recent achievements in the controlled self‐assembly of rod‐coil linear block copolymers and graft copolymers in solution, focusing on copolymer systems containing conjugated polymers, liquid crystalline polymers, polypeptides, and polyisocyanates as the rod segments. The discussions concentrate on the principle of controlling over the morphology of rod‐coil copolymer assemblies, as well as their distinctive optical and optoelectronic properties or biocompatibility and stimuli‐responsiveness, which afford the assemblies great potential as functional materials particularly for optical, optoelectronic and biological applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1459–1477     

Synthesis and self‐assembly in water of coil‐rod‐coil amphiphilic block copolymers with central π‐conjugated sequence

The purpose of this study is to correlate the nano‐organization in water of coil‐rod‐coil amphiphilic block copolymers constituted of a conjugated segment to their optoelectronic properties. The ABA block copolymer structures, easily achieved via coupling reactions, are based on conjugated rod of dihexylfluorene and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene units linked to two flexible poly(ethylene oxide) or poly[(ethylene oxide)‐ran‐(propylene oxide)] chains. These well‐defined copolymers exhibited a range of specific morphologies in water, a good solvent of coil blocks and a bad solvent of the conjugated rod. Particularly, vesicles and micelles with spherical, cylindrical, or elongated shape were noticed. Correlations were attempted to be established between the weight percent of the conjugated sequence contained in the copolymers, the morphology of the nanostructures obtained by self‐assembly in solution and the resulting optical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4602–4616, 2008     

Synthesis,crystalline morphologies,self‐assembly,and properties of H‐shaped amphiphilic dually responsive terpolymers

Novel and well‐defined amphiphilic H‐shaped terpolymers poly(L‐lactide)‐block‐(poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) ‐block‐)poly(ε‐caprolactone)(‐block‐poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) ‐b‐poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA‐b‐(PDMAEMA‐b‐)PCL(‐b‐PDMAEMA)‐b‐PLLA) were synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization, and click chemistry. The H‐shaped amphiphilic terpolymers can self‐assemble into spherical nano‐micelles in water. Because of the dually responsive (temperature and pH) properties of PDMAEMA segments, the hydrodynamic radius of the micelles of the H‐shaped terpolymer solution can be adjusted by altering the environmental temperature or pH values. The thermal properties investigation and the crystalline morphology analysis indicate that the branched structure of the H‐shaped terpolymers and the presence of amorphous PDMAEMA segments together led to the obvious decrease of PCL segments and the complete destruction of crystallinity of the PLLA segments in the H‐shaped terpolymers. In addition, the H‐shaped terpolymer film has better hydrophilicity than linear PCL or triblock polymer of PLLA‐b‐(N₃? )PCL(? N₃)‐b‐PLLA, due to the decrease or destruction of the crystallizability of the PCL or PLLA in the H‐shaped terpolymer and the presence of hydrophilic PDMAEMA segments. These unique H‐shaped amphiphilic terpolymers composed of biodegradable and biocompatible PCL and PLLA components and intelligent and biocompatible PDMAEMA component will have the potential applications in biomedical fields. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene)‐based coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer: Synthesis and controlled self‐organization in solution

The self‐assembling ability of block copolymers offers an attractive strategy for the organization of π‐conjugated polymers. This article reports the synthesis of a coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer consisting of oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene) as the rodlike segment and polystyrene as the coil‐like segment. The chemical structure of the afforded triblock copolymer has been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, Raman, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet–visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The small‐angle neutron scattering and photophysical measurements indicate that this triblock copolymer exhibits unique solvatochromatic behaviors through the interplay of aggregation‐induced π–π stacking and planarization of the conjugated backbone. Supramolecular gel nanostructures have been produced via the controlled assembly of the polymer into H‐aggregates. It has been demonstrated that the use of the solvent composition to influence chain conformations and thus to manipulate the packing of the conjugated polymer blocks is important for achieving control in the assembly of conducting polymers and associated optical characteristics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6007–6019, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorene‐based rod–coil liquid crystal polymers

A series of fluorene‐based rod–coil liquid crystal polymers with different lengths of the coil segments on backbones were designed and synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling‐reaction. The thermal stability, the UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra in chloroform solution and thin film, the electrochemical properties, thermal behavior, and morphology of these rod–coil polymers were investigated. The thermal stability of these polymers steadily decreased on increasing the length of the coil segments on the backbone; their optical and electrochemical properties did not exhibit noticeable dependence on the weight fraction of the coil segments. However, the shoulder emission and the full width at the half‐maximum (FWHM) in PL spectra of the films increased, whereas the oxidation onset potentials and the corresponding HOMO energy levels decreased with the increase in the weight fraction of the coil segments, which was assigned to microphase separation and formation of folded chain conformation as the weight fraction of the coil segments increased. These polymers displayed a characteristic liquid crystalline texture. The variation of the weight fraction of the coil segments obviously affected the thermal behavior and morphology of these rod–coil polymers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile syntheses,morphologies, and optical absorptions of P3HT coil‐rod‐coil triblock copolymers

Here we report syntheses, photophysical properties, and morphologies of a series of coil‐rod‐coil ABA triblock copolymers containing highly regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the central rod block. A new methodology, based on the coupling reaction between living polymeric anions [polystyrene, polyisoprene, and poly(methyl methacrylate)] and aldehyde terminated P3HT, was successfully developed to synthesize the triblock copolymers with low polydispersities. This coupling reaction was effective for building blocks with a variety of molecular weights; therefore, a good variation in compositions of the triblock copolymers could be feasibly achieved. The non‐P3HT coil segments and the solvents were found to exhibit noticeable effects on morphologies of the spin‐coated thin films. Attachment of the coil segments to P3HT did not change the optical absorption of the P3HT segment as the block copolymers were dissolved in solution regardless the chemical structure and the molecular weight of the coil segment. Interestingly, different UV–vis absorption behaviors were observed for the spin‐coated thin films of the block copolymers, which closely related to their morphologies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3311–3322, 2010     

Template–polymer commensurability and directed self‐assembly block copolymer lithography

Block copolymer directed self‐assembly (BCP) with chemical epitaxy is a promising lithographic solution for patterning features with critical dimensions under 20 nm. In this work, we study the extent to which lamellae‐forming poly(styrene‐b‐methyl methacrylate) can be directed with chemical contrast patterns when the pitch of the block copolymer is slightly compressed or stretched compared to the equilibrium pitch observed in unpatterned films. Critical dimension small angle X‐ray scattering complemented with SEM analysis was used to quantify the shape and roughness of the line/space features. It was found that the BCP was more lenient to pitch compression than to pitch stretching, tolerating at least 4.9% pitch compression, but only 2.5% pitch stretching before disrupting into dislocation or disclination defects. The more tolerant range of pitch compression is explained by considering the change in free energy with template mismatch, which suggests a larger penalty for pitch stretching than compressing. Additionally, the effect of width mismatch between chemical contrast pattern and BCP is considered for two different pattern transfer techniques. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 595–603     

Self‐Assembly of Rod–Coil Polyethylenimine–Poly(ethylene glycol)–α‐Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes into Hollow Spheres and Rod‐Like Particles

This paper describes the self‐assembly of rod–coil inclusion complexes, polyethylenimine–poly(ethylene glycol)–α‐cyclodextrin (PEI–PEG–α‐CD). It is demonstrated that α‐CDs should exclusively thread on the PEG block in PEI–PEG copolymers and the resulting complexes have both rigid block (PEG–α‐CD) and coil block (protonated PEI). By varying the rigid block fraction, aggregates with hollow spheres or rod‐like particles could be formed simply by self‐assembly in aqueous solution.     

Temperature‐responsive “tadpole‐shaped” protein–polymer hybrids and their self‐assembly behavior

The temperature‐responsive poly (N, N‐diethylacrylamide) (pDEAAm) with narrower molecular weight distribution was prepared by the atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized by ¹HNMR and gel permeation chromatography. The temperature‐responsive “tadpole‐shaped” BSA–pDEAAm hybrids were fabricated via a free Cys‐34 residue of bovine serum albumin (BSA) site specifically binding to the end group disulfide bonds of pDEAAm and characterized by native‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native‐PAGE) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Their temperature‐responsive behaviors were measured by ultraviolet‐visible spectra (UV‐Vis). The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the pDEAAm was identified as 28°C, and the LCST of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids was identified as 31°C. The morphologies of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids self‐assembled in the aqueous solutions with two different temperatures at 25 °C and 40°C were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Below the LCST of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids, the separate spherical nanoparticles were observed. In contrast, bundles and clusters were observed above the LCST of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids. The results suggested that the self‐assembly morphology of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids depended upon the pDEAAm block in BSA–pDEAAm hybrids, and the morphology transitions were effected by the LCST of BSA–pDEAAm hybrids. It would be expected to be used in biomedicine and materials science. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetically Enhanced Approach for Rapid and Tunable Self‐Assembly of Rod–Coil Block Copolymers

A facile approach is reported to process rod–coil block copolymers (BCPs) into highly ordered nanostructures in a rapid, low‐energy process. By introducing a selective plasticizer into the rod–coil BCPs during annealing, both the annealing temperature and time to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium and highly ordered structures can be decreased. This process improvement is attributed to enhanced chain mobility, reduced rod–rod interaction, and decreased rod–coil interaction from the additive. The novel method is based on kinetically facilitating thermodynamic equilibrium. The process requires no modification of polymer structure, indicating that a wide variety of desired polymer functionalities can be designed into BCPs for specific applications.

     

Synthesis,characterization, and self‐assembly of ion‐bonded A2B rod‐coil copolymer with oligo(para‐phenyleneethynylene) as rod segment

Supramolecular A₂B rod‐coil copolymer, composed of two polystyrene (PSt) arms and one oligo(para‐phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) arm linked via ionic bond, has been designed and successfully synthesized. First, a trifunctional initiator, methyl 1,3‐bis(bromomethyl)benzonate, was prepared and used to initiate the polymerization of styrene under atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) condition to provide polystyrene (PSt) carrying monoester group at the middle of polymer chain. Then, the ester group was transferred into tertiary amino group to give amino‐functionalized PSt, (PSt)₂? N(CH₃)₂. Subsequently, the ion‐bonded rod‐coil copolymer, (PSt)₂? OPE, was obtained by the reaction of (PSt)₂? N(CH₃)₂ with carboxy‐terminated OPE (OPE? COOH). The resulting copolymer was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transformer infrared (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. Vesicles and spherical micelles were generated from this supramolecular rod‐coil copolymer through the manipulation of the initial polymer concentration in toluene. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7667–7676, 2008     

Reversible Scrolling of Two‐Dimensional Sheets from the Self‐Assembly of Laterally Grafted Amphiphilic Rods

Deep‐water scrolls: It is demonstrated that amphiphilic rods containing lateral flexible chains self‐assemble into two‐dimensional sheets in aqueous solution (see picture). Remarkably, the sheets roll up reversibly into tubular scrolls upon heating, as confirmed by cryo‐transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy.

     

Temperature‐dependent self‐assembly and rheological behavior of a thermoreversible pmma–PnBA–PMMA triblock copolymer gel

Self‐assembly and mechanical properties of triblock copolymers in a mid‐block selective solvent are of interest in many applications. Herein, we report physical assembly of an ABA triblock copolymer, [PMMA–Pn BA–PMMA] in two different mid‐block selective solvents, n‐butanol and 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol. Gel formation resulting from end‐block associations and the corresponding changes in mechanical properties have been investigated over a temperature range of ?80 °C to 60 °C, from near the solvent melting points to above the gelation temperature. Shear‐rheometry, thermal analysis, and small‐angle neutron scattering data reveal formation and transition of structure in these systems from a liquid state to a gel state to a percolated cluster network with decrease in temperature. The aggregated PMMA end‐blocks display a glass transition temperature. Our results provide new understanding into the structural changes of a self‐assembled triblock copolymer gel over a large length scale and wide temperature range. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55 , 877–887     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of helical polypeptide‐random coil amphiphilic diblock copolymer

Three amphiphilic rod‐coil diblock copolymers, poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline‐b‐γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (PEOz‐b‐PBLG), incorporating the same‐length PEOz block length and various lengths of their PBLG blocks, were synthesized through a combining of living cationic and N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) ring‐opening polymerizations. In the bulk, these block copolymers display thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior. The self‐assembled aggregates that formed from these diblock copolymers in aqueous solution exhibited morphologies that differed from those obtained in α‐helicogenic solvents, that is, solvents in which the PBLG blocks adopt rigid α‐helix conformations. In aqueous solution, the block copolymers self‐assembled into spherical micelles and vesicular aggregates because of their amphiphilic structures. In helicogenic solvents (in this case, toluene and benzyl alcohol), the PEOz‐b‐PBLG copolymers exhibited rod‐coil chain properties, which result in a diverse array of aggregate morphologies (spheres, vesicles, ribbons, and tube nanostructures) and thermoreversible gelation behavior. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3108–3119, 2008     

Chain Architecture Dependent 3‐Dimensional Supramolecular Assembly of Rod‐Coil Molecules with a Conjugated Hexa‐p‐phenylene Rod

Summary: We have prepared hexa‐p‐phenylene based rod‐coil molecules with identical coil volume fractions, but different poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) coil architectures (linear versus dibranched), and investigated their self‐assembling behavior in the solid state by small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Rod‐coil molecules with a linear PPO coil showed a honeycomb‐like lamellar assembly of rod segments with hexagonally arrayed PPO coil perforations. In contrast, the rod‐coil molecules with dibranched PPO coils self‐organized into rod bundles with a body centered tetragonal symmetry surrounded by a PPO coil matrix. These results demonstrate that the steric hindrance at the rod/coil interface arising from coil architectural variation is a dominant parameter governing supramolecular rod assembly in the rod‐coil system.

TEM images and schematic illustrations of the self‐assembled structures of rod‐coil molecules with linear (left) and dibranched (right) PPO coils, respectively.