Investigating the effect of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin/block copolymer molar ratio on the template-directed preparation of mesoporous alumina with tailored porosity

Supramolecular assemblies formed between cyclodextrins and block copolymers can be efficiently used as templates for the preparation of mesoporous materials with controlled porosity. In this work, we use dynamic light scattering (DLS) and viscosity measurements to follow the variations occurring in the size and morphology of the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123) micelles in the presence of various amounts of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB). The results obtained with a series of solution compositions reveal that the cyclodextrin-to-copolymer (RAMEB/P123) molar ratio plays a crucial role in the growth rate of the micelles. At low RAMEB/P123 molar ratios (below ~7.5), a swelling effect of the cyclodextrin in the P123 micelles is noticed together with a modification of the micellar curvature from spherical to ellipsoidal. At high molar ratios (~7.5 and above), an abrupt transition toward large supramolecular assemblies, which no longer resemble micelles, occurs. When the RAMEB-swollen P123 micelles are used as templates to direct the self-assembly of colloidal boehmite nanoparticles, mesoporous γ-Al₂O₃ materials with high surface areas (360–400 m²/g), tunable pore sizes (10–20 nm), large pore volumes (1.3–2.0 cm³/g) and fiberlike morphologies are obtained under mild conditions. The composition of the mixed micellar solution, in particular the cyclodextrin-to-copolymer molar ratio, appears to be a key factor in controlling the porosity of alumina.     

Distribution of the methyl radical adduct of N‐benzylidene‐1‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐1‐methylethylamine N‐oxide‐type nitrones in water–sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles: an electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping study

The behavior of the methyl radical adduct of six β‐phosphorylated nitrones in the N‐benzylidene‐1‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐1‐methylethylamine N‐oxide series in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles was followed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Except when the highly hydrophilic trap 4‐PyOPN (2) was used, all the adducts were found to partition significantly between micelles and the bulk aqueous phase. The average correlation time τ of the exchange of spin adducts between SDS micelles and water was found to be in the range 5 × 10^?8—4 × 10^?7 s, which is in the region of the life time of an SDS monomer in the micelle structure. In each case, the adduct affinity for the micelles has been quantified by evaluating its micelle–water distribution coefficient K_d. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acid soap formation of oleic acid and catanionic complex formation in the alkyldimethylamine oxide/sodium oleate equimolar mixtures

The influence of adding alkyldimethylamine oxide (CnDMAO) with varying alkyl chain lengths (n_c) on the acid soap formation of oleic acid was investigated. The solutions of equimolar mixtures of CnDMAO and sodium oleate (Na⁺Ol^–), each 25 mmol kg^–1, became turbid at a certain critical pH (pH_c) on decreasing pH. Values of the pH_c depended on n_c and showed the minimum at C10DMAO/NaOl mixture. The presence of the minimum was interpreted in terms of two different kinds of the complex formed in the micelles depending on n_c: the catanionic complex (CnDMAOH⁺/Ol^–) in the mixed micelles of n_c=16, 14, 12 and 10, and the acid soap of oleic acid for C6DMAO/NaOl and C8DMAO/NaOl mixtures. At pH_c where the amounts of these complexes of double-chain nature reached certain critical values in the mixed micelles, a phase separation (most probably lamella formation) took place. It was expected that the critical amount of the catanionic complex was smaller for the mixtures of higher n_c values and hence pH_c increased with n_c for the mixtures n_c10. For the mixtures of n_c<10, it was expected that the amount of the acid soap in the mixed micelles increased with decreasing n_c at a given pH and the pH_c increased with decreasing n_c. Micelle compositions at cmc were evaluated on the basis of the regular solution theory coupled with the pseudo phase approximation. The micelle compositions at 100 mmol kg^–1 were examined with ¹³C-NMR. The results showed the mixed micelle formation for n_c=16–10, while the micelles mostly consisting of oleic acid for the mixtures of n_c=8 and 6. The assumption of two different complexes for the two groups of the mixture was thus supported. The cmc range of mixed micelles was evaluated and it was well correlated with the observed concentration range of pyrene fluorescence change.     

Synthesis of Mesoporous Transition‐Metal Phosphates by Polymeric Micelle Assembly

Mesoporous iron phosphate (FePO₄) was synthesized through assembly of polymeric micelles made of asymmetric triblock co‐polymer (polystyrene‐b‐poly‐2‐vinylpyridine‐b‐ethylene oxide; PS‐PVP‐PEO). The phosphoric acid solution stimulates the formation of micelles with core–shell‐corona architecture. The negatively charged PO₄^3? ions dissolved in the solution strongly interact with the positively charged PVP⁺ units through an electrostatic attraction. Also, the presence of PO₄^3? ions realizes a bridge between the micelle surface and the metal ions. The removal of polymeric template forms the robust framework of iron phosphate with 30 nm pore diameter and 15 nm wall thickness. Our method is applicable to other mesoporous metal phosphates by changing metal sources. The obtained materials were fully characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), N₂ adsorption–desorption, Raman spectroscope, and other techniques.     

Biopolymer mimicry with polymeric wormlike micelles: Molecular weight scaled flexibility,locked-in curvature,and coexisting microphases

Giant and stable wormlike micelles formed in water from a series of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based diblock copolymer amphiphiles mimicked the flexibility of various cytoskeletal filaments. The worm diameter (d) was found by cryo-transmission electron microscopy to scale with the length of the hydrophobic chain (N_h) of the copolymer as d ∼ N_h^0.61. By fluorescence video imaging of worm dynamics, we also showed that the persistence length (l_P) of wormlike micelles scaled as l_P ∼ d^2.8, consistent with a fluid aggregate (∼d³) rather than a solid rod (∼d⁴). By polymerizing the unsaturated bonds of assembled copolymers, fluid worms were converted to solid-core worms, extending the bending rigidity from that of intermediate filament biopolymers to actin filaments and, in principle, microtubules. Through partial crosslinking, polymerized worms further locked in spontaneous curvature at a novel fluid-to-solid percolation point. The dynamics of distinct, branched conformations were also imaged for recently discovered Y-junctioned wormlike micelles composed of diblocks of high molecular weight (>10–15 kg/mol). Finally, block copolymers of hydrophilic weight fraction close to the transition between a vesicle- and worm-former assembled into both structures, allowing encapsulation of wormlike micelles in giant vesicles reminiscent of cytoskeletal filaments enclosed within cells. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 168–176, 2004     

The micellization of the diblock copolymer of ethylene oxide and styrene in benzene and the effect on the preparation of the star ABC triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide, styrene and methyl methacrylate

In the preparation of the ABC star triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide, styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA), the photo-induced charge-transfer complex (CTC) was used to initiate the polymerization of the third monomer MMA. The CTC was composed of the diblock copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polystyrene (PS), PEO-b _i -PS, with an aromatic imino group at the conjunction point and benzophenone (BP). It was confirmed that the kinetic behavior of this macromolecular initiation system is nearly the same with a general small radical initiator: the polymerization rate R _p ∝ [PEO-b _i -PS]^0.48[BP]^0.45[MMA]^0.97. Moreover, if the molecular weight of the PEO block is fixed, R _p is independent of the molecular weight of the PS block.  By means of measurements of viscosity and fluorescence, it was found that the micelles of the diblock copolymer PEO-b _i -PS were formed in benzene. The aromatic imino groups were located on the boundary surfaces of the micelles and were fully exposed, and so the BP and MMA molecules easily approached them and affected the charge-transfer polymerization of MMA. Received: 18 August 1998 Accepted in revised form: 25 November 1998     

Hydrophobic N‐Diazeniumdiolates and the Aqueous Interface of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Micelles

Zwitterionic diazeniumdiolates of the form RN[N(O)NO^?](CH₂)₂NH₂⁺R, where R=CH₃ ( 1 ), (CH₂)₃CH₃ ( 2 ), (CH₂)₅CH₃ ( 3 ), and (CH₂)₇CH₃ ( 4 ) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding diamines with nitric oxide. Spectrophotometrically determined pK_a(O) values, attributed to protonation at the terminal oxygen of the diazeniumdiolate group, show shifts to higher values in dependence of the chain lengths of R. The pH dependence of the decomposition of NO donors 1 – 3 was studied in buffered solution between pH 5 and 8 at 22 °C, from which pK_a(N) values for protonation at the amino nitrogen, leading to release of NO, were estimated. It is shown that the decomposition of these diazeniumdiolates is markedly catalyzed by anionic SDS micelles. First‐order rate constants for the decay of 1 – 4 were determined in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 22 °C as a function of SDS concentration. Micellar binding constants, K_SM, for the association of diazeniumdiolates 1 – 3 with the SDS micelles were also determined, again showing a significant increase with increasing length of the alkyl side chains. The decomposition of 1 – 3 in micellar solution is quantitatively described by using the pseudo‐phase ion‐exchange (PIE) model, in which the degree of micellar catalysis is taken into account through the ratio of the second‐order rate constants (k_2m/k_2w) for decay in the micelles and in the bulk aqueous phase. The decay kinetics of 1 – 3 were further studied in the presence of cosolvents and nonionic surfactants, but no effect on the rate of NO release was observed. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of association to the micelle–aqueous phase interface of the negatively charged micelles. The apparent interfacial pH value of SDS micelles was evaluated from comparison of the pH dependence of the first‐order decay rate constants of 2 and 3 in neat buffer and the rate data obtained for the surfactant‐mediated decay. For a bulk phase of pH 7.4, an interfacial pH of 5.7–5.8 was determined, consistent with the distribution of H⁺ in the vicinity of the negatively charged micelles. The data demonstrate the utility of 2 and 3 as probes for the determination of the apparent pH value in the Stern region of anionic micelles.     

Electrostatic hierarchical co-assembly in aqueous solutions of two oppositely charged double hydrophilic diblock copolymers

The formation of spherical micelles in aqueous solutions of poly(N-methyl-2-vinyl pyridinium iodide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide), P2MVP-b-PEO and poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(vinyl alcohol), PAA-b-PVOH has been investigated with light scattering-titrations, dynamic and static light scattering, and ¹H 2D Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy. Complex coacervate core micelles, also called PIC micelles, block ionomer complexes, and interpolyelectrolyte complexes, are formed in thermodynamic equilibrium under charge neutral conditions (pH 8, 1 mM NaNO₃, T = 25 °C) through electrostatic interaction between the core-forming P2MVP and PAA blocks. 2D ¹H NOESY NMR experiments show no cross-correlations between PEO and PVOH blocks, indicating their segregation in the micellar corona. Self-consistent field calculations support the conclusion that these C3Ms are likely to resemble a ‘patched micelle’; that is, micelles featuring a ‘spheres-on-sphere’ morphology.     

Electrokinetic properties of mixed solutions of dodecyldimethylamine oxide and sodium dodecyl sulfate: specific adsorption effects of small ions

Electrophoretic light-scattering measurements and potentiometric titrations were carried out on aqueous mixtures of dodecyldimethylamine oxide and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The electrophoretic mobility and the surface charge density of the micelles were always negative, ranging from –2.5 to –3.1×10^–4 cm²V^–1s^–1, and –0.033 to –0.045 cm^–2, respectively, for all surfactant mixing ratios, indicating the specific adsorption of Cl^–, in addition to Na⁺, on micelles. The solution pH, as well as the aggregation number previously reported, displayed maxima at intermediate surfactant mole fractions, that is, the non-ideal behavior. The fractional adsorption of Na⁺ per surfactant molecule in the micelles increased gradually with mixing fraction up to 0.82 atX=[SDS]/([SDS]+[C₁₂DAO])=1, while that of Cl^– decreased from 0.25 atX=0 to zero atX>0.4.     

Structure formation of fullerene-containing propylene oxide oligomers in deuterium water

Structure formation of propylene oxide oligomers with terminal hydrophobic aliphatic fragment and of oligo(propylene oxides) additionally containing covalently bonded fullerene C₆₀ in deuterium water was studied by small-angle neutron scattering. Propylene oxide chains containing a long hydrophobic fragment undergo organization into spherical micelles, whereas the fullerene(C₆₀)-containing derivatives form rodlike structures (elongated “chains” of cross-linked micelles).     

Synthesis and chiral micellization behavior of optically active amphiphilic diblock copolymer bearing quinine pendants

A novel optically active amphiphilic diblock copolymer bearing quinine pendants poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(glycidyl triazolyl‐L ‐quinine) (MPEO‐b‐PGTQ) was synthesized by “click” reaction of alkyne‐modified diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(glycidyl propargyl ether) (MPEO‐b‐PGPE) and 9‐N₃‐quinine. The structure and composition of copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), elemental analysis and optical rotation measurements, which showed that the synthetic route could provide the copolymer with well‐defined composition and with similar optical activity compared to its parent quinine. The micellization behavior of this chiral copolymer was investigated in different solvent systems. The results from fluorescence spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, ¹H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicated that the MPEO‐b‐PGTQ could form regular chiral spherical micelles in H₂O and Tetrahydrofuran‐H₂O (10:90, V/V) systems, and the state of aggregated chiral micelles depended on the nature of the medium. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3640–3650, 2009     

Rodlike micelles of dimethyloleylamine oxide in aqueous NaCl solutions,and their flexibility and size distribution

Angular dependence of light scattering from aqueous NaCl solutions of dimethyloleylamine oxide has been measured in the presence of NaCl from 5×10^–4 M to 10^–1 M at 25 °C. The molecular weight and radius of gyration of micelles increase with increasing micelle concentration and reach constant values, suggesting occurrence of the sphere-rod equilibrium dependent on the micelle concentration. With increasing NaCl concentration, rodlike micelles are larger in molecular weight and become longer. The micelles formed at NaCl concentrations higher than 10^–3 M are nearly monodisperse when the micelle concentration is high.Rodlike micelles of dimethyloleylamine oxide in 10^–2 M and 5 × 10^–2 M NaCl solutions have molecular weights of 4,760,000 and 6,900,000, respectively, and behave as semi-flexible or wormlike chains. In 5×10^–2 M NaCl they have a contour length of 5750 Å and a persistence length of 1760 Å. These micelle parameters correspond to the end-to-end distance of 3780 Å and the number of Kuhn's statistical segments of 1.64. The large aggregation number of the rodlike micelles is induced by the strong cohesion of long hydrocarbon chains in solution, and their flexibility is caused by the hydration of amine oxide groups.     

Effects of Inorganic Salts on Micellization and Solubilization in an Aqueous Solution of Poly(ethylene oxide)/Poly(propylene oxide)/Poly(ethylene oxide) Triblock Copolymer

The effects of inorganic salts on micellization and solubilization of prednisolone in aqueous solution of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide)/poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer (Pluronic P85) were studied. The effect of inorganic salts on decrease in the cloud point and the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of Pluronic P85 was the order of Na₂HPO₄ > NaH₂PO₄ > NaCl > NaBr. Moreover, it was found that Pluronic P85 forms two kinds of micelles: monomolecular micelles and polymolecular micelles. The polymolecular micelle increased with increasing amount of added inorganic salts. Moreover, solubilization behavior is explained from the standpoint of salting out for prednisolone and association characteristics of Pluronic P85.     

Effect of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) on self‐assembly of polystyrene‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) in aqueous solution

Mixed micelles of polystyrene‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PS‐b‐PNIPAM) and two polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymers (PS‐b‐PEO) with different chain lengths of polystyrene in aqueous solution were prepared by adding the tetrahydrofuran solutions dropwise into an excess of water. The formation and stabilization of the resultant mixed micelles were characterized by using a combination of static and dynamic light scattering. Increasing the initial concentration of PS‐b‐PEO in THF led to a decrease in the size and the weight average molar mass (〈M_w〉) of the mixed micelles when the initial concentration of PS‐b‐ PNIPAM was kept as 1 × 10^?3 g/mL. The PS‐b‐PEO with shorter PS block has a more pronounced effect on the change of the size and 〈M_w〉 than that with longer PS block. The number of PS‐b‐PNIPAM in each mixed micelle decreased with the addition of PS‐b‐PEO. The average hydrodynamic radius 〈R_h〉 and average radius of gyration 〈R_g〉 of pure PS‐b‐PNIPAM and mixed micelles gradually decreased with the increase in the temperature. Both the pure micelles and mixed micelles were stable in the temperature range of 18 °C–39 °C. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1168–1174, 2010     

Comparison of aggregation behaviors between branched and linear block polyethers: MesoDyn simulation study

The comparison of aggregation behaviors between the branched block polyether T1107 (polyether A) and linear polyether (EO)₆₀(PO)₄₀(EO)₆₀ (polyether B) in aqueous solution are investigated by the MesoDyn simulation. Polyether A forms micelles at lower concentration and has a smaller aggregation number than B. Both the polyethers show the time-dependent micellar growth behaviors. The spherical micelles appear and then change to rod-like micelles with time evolution in the 10 vol% solution of polyether A. The micellar cluster appears and changes to pseudo-spherical micelles with time evolution in the 20 vol% solution of polyether A. However, the spherical micelles appear and change to micellar cluster with time evolution in the 20 vol% polyether B solution. The shear can induce the micellar transition of both block polyethers. When the shear rate is 1?×?10⁵ s^?1, the shear can induce the sphere-to-rod transition of both polyethers at the concentration of 10 and 20 vol%. When the shear rate is lower than 1?×?10⁵ s^?1, the huge micelles and micellar clusters can be formed in the 10 and 20 vol% polyether A systems under the shear, while the huge micelles are formed and then disaggregated with the time evolution in the 20 vol% polyether B system.     

Interfacial compositions of cationic and mixed non-ionic micelles by chemical trapping: a new method for characterizing the properties of amphiphilic aggregates

A specially synthesized arenediazonium ion bound to amphiphilic aggregates decomposes spontaneously via rate determining loss of N₂ to give a highly reactive, unselective, aryl cation intermediate. This intermediate is trapped competitively by weakly basic nucleophiles in the interfacial region of aggregates such as micelles and other association colloids. Product yields, analyzed by HPLC with UV detection, are used to estimate, simultaneously, the interfacial concentrations of a number of different nucleophiles, including water, that are commonly found at the surfaces of biomembranes and in many commercial products. Two applications of the method are discussed. First, we show that the interfacial concentrations of X⁻ (X=Br, Cl) increase steadily with increasing cetyltrimethylammonium halide (CTAX) and tetramethylammonium halide (TMAX) concentrations and that the interfacial concentrations of these counterions increase continuously with their aqueous phase concentrations at a constant degree of micelle ionization. Interfacial Br⁻ and Cl⁻ concentrations also show marked increases at their respective sphere-to-rod transitions. This steady increase in interfacial counterion concentration with increasing aqueous counterion concentration contradicts a basic assumption of the pseudophase ion exchange (PIE) model of chemical reactivity in aggregates, i.e. that the total concentrations of ions at aggregate interfaces is constant and independent of the amphiphile and salt concentrations. The consequences for the PIE model are discussed. Second, the chemical trapping reaction is used to estimate: (a) distributions of terminal OH groups of non-ionic amphiphiles in mixed non-ionic micelles composed of amphiphiles with different lengths of oligoethylene oxide chains and (b) hydration numbers of the inner layers of interfacial region next to the hydrocarbon core in these mixed micelles. Terminal OH groups distributions are well fitted by a radial one-dimensional random walk model. The average hydration number for the inner layers at 40°C is about 3, in agreement with estimates from NMR water (D₂O) self-diffusion measurements and with the hydration number of 3 for aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide. The results suggest that the hydration states of the ethylene oxide (EO) units near the micellar core are near their minimum value. Recent and potential applications of the chemical trapping method are briefly discussed.     

New Thiol‐Responsive Mono‐Cleavable Block Copolymer Micelles Labeled with Single Disulfides

Thiol‐responsive symmetric triblock copolymers having single disulfide linkages in the middle blocks (called mono‐cleavable block copolymers, ss‐ABP₂) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of a disulfide‐labeled difunctional Br‐initiator. These brush‐like triblock copolymers consist of a hydrophobic polyacrylate block having pendent oligo(propylene oxide) and a hydrophilic polymethacrylate block having pendent oligo(ethylene oxide). Gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR results confirmed the synthesis of well‐defined mono‐cleavable block copolymers and revealed that polymerizations were well controlled. Because of amphiphilic nature, these copolymers self‐assembled to form colloidally stable micelles above critical micellar concentration of 0.032 mg · mL⁻¹. In response to reductive reactions, disulfides in thiol‐responsive micelles were cleaved. Atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis suggested that the cleavage of disulfides caused dissociation of micelles to smaller‐sized assembled structures in water. Moreover, in a biomedical perspective, the mono‐cleavable block copolymer micelles are not cytotoxic and thus biocompatible.

     

Interaction and solubilization of some phenolic antioxidants in Pluronic® micelles

The solubilization of four phenolic antioxidants, namely p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBAA), syringic acid, sinapic acid, and quercetin in micelles of an ethylene oxide (EO)–propylene oxide (PO) triblock copolymer Pluronic^® P104 (EO₂₇–PO₆₁–EO₂₇, PPO mol wt = 3540, % PEO = 40) was examined at different temperatures, pHs, and in the presence of sodium chloride. The nano-size core–shell micelles of P104 characterized by dynamic light scattering had hydrodynamic diameter of about 18–20 nm with low polydispersity. Antioxidants induced micellization and micellar growth were observed. The critical micellar concentration (CMC), critical micellar temperature (CMT), cloud point (CP) of P104 decreased due to solubilization and interactions of antioxidants. The solubilization was favored at higher temperature, pH and in the presence of salt and follows the order PHBA > syringic acid > sinapic acid > quercetin which corresponds to the trend in their aqueous solubility. The location of antioxidant in micelles observed from NOESY spectra. Structure and hydrophobicity of antioxidants were found to be governing factors for their interaction and location in the micelles.     

Effect of ionic micellar medium on kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of bovine serum albumin: A pulse radiolysis study

Effect of protein–micelle interaction on bovine serum albumin (BSA) oxidation by trichloromethyl peroxyl radical (CCl₃O₂^·) in anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar media has been studied using nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique. Viscosity measurement and light scattering studies have suggested that SDS and CTAB micelles produce BSA–micelle aggregates of different sizes and polydispersity. Oxidation kinetics and transients have been affected both by anionic SDS and cationic CTAB micelles but in a different manner. Tryptophanyl-CCl₃O₂^· adduct radical to tyrosyl radical transformation in BSA has been observed in anionic SDS micelles but not in cationic CTAB micelles. Similar studies have also been done with tryptophan and tyrosine amino acids, which undergo oxidation in BSA. The study suggests that Coulombic and hydrophobic interactions between micelles and protein affect the structure of the protein to shield its functional amino acids, like tryptophan and tyrosine, to neutral oxidizing radical.     

Intensity-tunable micelles and films containing bimetal ions—europium(III) and terbium(III)

In this paper, multicolored micelles were prepared by coordination of lanthanide(III) (europium(III) (Eu(III)) and terbium(III) (Tb(III))) ions with block copolymer in different molar ratios of n _Eu(III)/n _Tb(III). The micelles formed by polymer–Eu(III)/Tb(III) could emit higher quantum yield luminescence than the mixture of polymer–Eu(III) micelles and polymer–Tb(III) micelles. The micelles containing Eu(III) and Tb(III) could emit a yellow-green color, and the intensity varied with the molar ratios of n _Eu(III)/n _Tb(III). In the constant concentrations of Eu(III) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), the intensity of ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ increased with the addition of Tb(III), and the intensity of ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ decreased with the increasing of Eu(III) in the constant concentrations of Tb(III) and Phen. All the multicolored micelles could be spin-coated as intensity-tunable films.