Quadruple Hydrogen Bond-Containing A-AB-A Triblock Copolymers: Probing the Influence of Hydrogen Bonding in the Central Block

This work reveals the influence of pendant hydrogen bonding strength and distribution on self-assembly and the resulting thermomechanical properties of A-AB-A triblock copolymers. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization afforded a library of A-AB-A acrylic triblock copolymers, wherein the A unit contained cytosine acrylate (CyA) or post-functionalized ureido cytosine acrylate (UCyA) and the B unit consisted of n-butyl acrylate (nBA). Differential scanning calorimetry revealed two glass transition temperatures, suggesting microphase-separation in the A-AB-A triblock copolymers. Thermomechanical and morphological analysis revealed the effects of hydrogen bonding distribution and strength on the self-assembly and microphase-separated morphology. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed multiple tan delta (δ) transitions that correlated to chain relaxation and hydrogen bonding dissociation, further confirming the microphase-separated structure. In addition, UCyA triblock copolymers possessed an extended modulus plateau versus temperature compared to the CyA analogs due to the stronger association of quadruple hydrogen bonding. CyA triblock copolymers exhibited a cylindrical microphase-separated morphology according to small-angle X-ray scattering. In contrast, UCyA triblock copolymers lacked long-range ordering due to hydrogen bonding induced phase mixing. The incorporation of UCyA into the soft central block resulted in improved tensile strength, extensibility, and toughness compared to the AB random copolymer and A-B-A triblock copolymer comparisons. This study provides insight into the structure-property relationships of A-AB-A supramolecular triblock copolymers that result from tunable association strengths.     

Three-dimensionally packed nanohelical phase in chiral block copolymers

Chirality-driven microphase-separated morphology, poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) left-handed nanohelices hexagonally packed in PS matrix, was obtained from chiral diblock copolymers, poly(styrene)-b-poly(l-lactide). This is perhaps for the first time; the helical superstructures of chiral block copolymers were generated in the bulk and self-assembled to a two-dimensionally (2D) packed lattice. Now, the analyses of block copolymer thermodynamics should be complicated by the chiral entities of constituted components. Orderly packed nanohelical channels can be obtained after hydrolysis, and this provides new opportunities for block copolymer applications in the fields of nanosciences.     

Preparation and characterization of V-shaped PS-b-PEO brushes anchored on planar gold substrate through the trithiocarbonate junction group

Trithiocarbonate group was introduced into the polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) block copolymers as the junction of the blocks through RAFT polymerization. Mixed PS and PEO brushes with a V-shape were prepared by anchoring the trithiocarbonate group on the planar gold substrate. The morphology of the V-shaped brushes was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the surface composition responsive to solvent treatment was detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Different morphologies were observed for the V-shaped PS-b-PEO brushes, depending on the chain structure and solvent treatment. The highly selective solvent for PEO, ethanol, can intensify or induce microphase separation of the V-shaped brushes, leading to vertical microphase separation. When the V-shaped brushes are treated with the co-solvent, THF, miscible morphology, lateral microphase separation, and vertical microphase separation are observed as the PS block length increases. After treatment with the non-selective poor solvent, cyclohexane, the V-shaped PS(106)-b-PEO(113) brush, exhibits a laterally microphase-separated morphology, but the V-shaped PS(52)-b-PEO(113) and PS(253)-b-PEO(113) brushes are vertically microphase-separated.     

Pattern formation and ordering in thin films of crystallisable block copolymers

We show that tapping-mode atomic force microscopy provides real-space and time-resolved observations of morphology and pattern formation resulting from crystallisation of annealed thin films of polyethelenoxide or microphase-separated low-molecular-weight hydrogenated poly(butadiene-b-ethyleneoxide) diblock copolymers. Differences in viscoelastic properties allow distinguishing crystalline and molten (amorphous) areas with a nanometer resolution.     

Organized polymerization of functional diblock copolymers possessing central isoprene groups

Functional diblock copolymers possessing central isoprene groups were synthesized by anionic addition in a three-stage process using styrene, isoprene, and 2-vinylpyridine monomers. These diblock copolymers formed microphase-separated structure in the solid state. Where the central isoprene groups are organized regularly at the domain interface of the microphase-separated structure, this is due to the functional groups being located at the block junction position. Addition-condensation of diblock copolymer film with sulfur monochloride formed A_nB_n star block copolymers by organization effects. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Liquid crystalline block copolymers by sequential cationic or promoted cationic and free-radical polymerizations

The scope for the study of the synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline (LC) block copolymers is briefly outlined. While there are many approaches to the synthesis of LC block copolymers, the use of azo macroinitiators is very versatile and allows one to produce diverse block copolymer architectures. Azo macroinitiators are prepared by cationic or promoted cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (1) or cyclohexene oxide (2), and are then used to initiate the free-radical polymerization of various methacrylates 3,4 or acrylates 5–9 containing mesogenic azobenzene or biphenyl units thereby yielding block copolymers. The AB or ABA block copolymers are microphase-separated and form smectic and/or nematic mesophases similar to the respective LC homopolymers.     

Self-encapsulation of poly-2,7-fluorenes in a dendrimer matrix.

The synthesis and characterization of complex dendritic, rigid rod poly-2,7-fluorene homopolymers and copolymers via a macromonomer approach is reported. Several 2,7-dibromofluorene monomers containing benzyl ether dendrons (generations 1, 2, and 3) in the 9,9'-position of the fluorene ring were prepared and employed in condensation polymerizations to yield both homopolymers and copolymers with diethylhexylfluorene. Fluorescence measurements of the materials reveal extensive conjugation along the polymer backbone. The determination of the solid-state PL spectra and quantum efficiencies showed that there is an apparent optimum size of the dendritic side groups with the [G-2]-derivatives showing high reactivity with associated site isolation of the conjugated chain. AFM analysis and DSC results confirmed that the hybrid polymers and copolymers did not show any sign of a microphase-separated morphology. First EL-results demonstrated that the homopolymers have higher turn-on voltages then the corresponding copolymers.     

High Tg polyimide nanofoams derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and 1,1-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane

New routes for the synthesis of high T_g thermally stable polymer foams with pore sizes in the nanometer regime have been developed. Foams were prepared by casting well-defined microphase-separated block copolymers comprised of a thermally stable block and a thermally labile material. At properly designed volume fractions the morphology provides a matrix of the thermally stable material with the thermally labile material as the dispersed phase. Upon thermal treatment, the thermally unstable block undergoes thermolysis generating pores, the size and shape of which are dictated by the initial copolymer morphology. Triblock copolymers comprised of a high T_g, amorphous polyimide matrix with poly(propylene oxide) as the thermally decomposable coblock, were prepared. The copolymer synthesis was conducted through the poly(amic acid) precursor and subsequent cyclodehydration to the polyimide by either thermal or chemical means. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed microphase separated morphologies for all copolymers, irrespective of the propylene oxide block lengths investigated. Upon decomposition of the thermally labile coblock, a 9–18% reduction in density was observed, consistent with the generation of a foam which was stable to 400°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Block copolymers of isotactic polypropylene and 1,4-polybutadiene

Two block copolymers of isotactic polypropylene and 1,4 polybutadiene were synthesized using techniques involving a transformation from anionic to Ziegler–Natta polymerization mechanisms. The yield of block copolymer was about fifteen percent (weight basis) in both polymerizations, the remainder being unreacted polybutadiene from the first block synthesis. Molecular characterization experiments and model reactions were consistent with a block-like structure for the copolymers; definitive evidence for the proposed molecular structure was obtained through transmission electron microscopy which clearly revealed microphase-separated morphologies characteristic of block copolymers.     

Side chain crystallization in microphase-separated poly(styrene-block-octadecylmethacrylate) copolymers

The crystallization behavior of two microphase-separated poly(styrene-b-octadecylmethacrylate) block copolymers with lamellar and cylindrical morphology is studied by DSC. The findings are compared with results for a polyoctadecylmetharcylate (PODMA) homopolymer. The situation in the block copolymers is characterized by the occurrence of a confined side chain crystallization in small PODMA domains surrounded by a glassy polystyrene phase. The strength of confinement effects depends significantly on the block copolymer morphology. The crystallization behavior of PODMA lamellae with a thickness of about 10 nm is only slightly affected and similar to the situation in the homopolymer. In cylindrical PODMA domains with a diameter of about 10 nm strong confinement effects are observed: the degree of crystallinity is 50% reduced and the crystallization kinetics slows down. The Avrami coefficients change from n≈3 for the homopolymer and PODMA lamellae to n≈1 for PODMA cylinders. This observation indicates one-dimensional growth in small cylinders or a change from heterogeneous to homogeneous nucleation. Pros and cons of both approaches are discussed. A speculative picture explaining qualitatively the differences in the crystallization behavior of PODMA lamellae and cylinders in a glassy polystyrene matrix is presented.     

Synthesis of all-conjugated diblock copolymers by quasi-living polymerization and observation of their microphase separation

We designed and synthesized the all-conjugated diblock copolymers poly(3-hexylthiophene-block-3-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophene)s (P(3HT-b-3EHT)s) via a modified Grignard metathesis (GRIM), a type of quasi-living polymerization, and studied their microphase-separated structures. The P(3HT-b-3EHT)s synthesized had well-controlled molecular weights and very narrow polydispersity indices (PDIs), which demonstrates the usefulness of GRIM polymerization for the synthesis of semiconducting block copolymers. P(3HT-b-3EHT)s self-organized to form clear microphase-separated patterns upon thermal treatment, as observed by AFM. Interestingly, the enhancement of the interchain interaction of the P3HT segments compared with the P3HT homopolymer was clearly observed from the UV-vis spectra, despite the fact that the amount of crystalline P3HT fraction was reduced to 83% of the total polymer amount in P(3HT-b-3EHT). It is suggested that the relatively unconstrained, amorphous segments of P3EHT can enhance the crystallization of P3HT segments to form an ordered self-organized nanostructure.     

Synthesis,liquid crystalline mesophases and morphologies of diblock copolymers composed of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) block and a nematic liquid crystalline block

In this study, a series of liquid crystalline diblock copolymers, composed of a soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) block with a de?ned length and a side-on liquid crystalline poly(3??-acryloyloxypropyl 2,5-di(4?-butyloxybenzoyloxy) benzoate) (P3ADBB) block with different lengths, are synthesised by the atom transfer radical polymerisation. The macromolecular structures, liquid crystalline properties and the microphase-separated morphologies of the diblock copolymer are investigated by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, GPC, POM, DSC and TEM. The results show that the well-de?ned diblock copolymers (PDMS_n-b-P3ADBB_m) possess four different soft/rigid ratios (n = 58, m = 10, 25, 42, 66) and relatively narrow molecular distributions (PDI ≤ 1.30). P3ADBB blocks of the copolymers show nematic sub-phases, which are identical to the mesomorphic behaviour of the homopolymer P3ADBB. After being annealed at 90°C in a vacuum oven for 48 h, the copolymers form a lamellar morphology when m = 10 and morphologies of PDMS spheres embedded in P3ADBB matrix when m = 25, 42 and 66.     

一步法制备聚二甲基硅氧烷大分子偶氮引发剂及其用于嵌段共聚物的合成

提出了一种简单易行的合成聚二甲基硅氧烷大分子偶氮引发剂的方法.通过羟基封端的聚二甲基硅氧烷(HO-PDMS-OH)与4,4′-偶氮-二(4-氰基戊酸)(ACPA)在十分温和的条件下直接进行一步缩聚反应,合成了含有PDMS链段的大分子偶氮引发剂.用这种大分子引发剂来引发聚(乙二醇)甲醚甲基丙烯酸酯大分子单体(PEGMA)进行自由基溶液聚合,得到了一系列两亲性梳状嵌段共聚物(PDMS-PEG).     

Synthesis and properties of multiblock copolymers based on polydimethylsiloxane and polyamides from dicarboxylic acid and diisocyanate terminated functionalities

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)–polyamide multiblock copolymers were successfully synthesized via diisocyanate route by two different procedures, i.e., the one-step and two-step methods, In the two-step method, α, ω-diisocyanate-terminated polyamide oligomers, which were prepared in situ from a mixture of isophthalic acid (IPA) and azelaic acid (AZA) with 4,4′-methylenedi (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidone (DMI) in the presence of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-phosopholene 1-oxide catalyst, were reacted with α, ω-bis (10-carboxydecyl) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-diacid) leading to the formation of multiblock copolymers. In the one-step method, the reaction components, MDI, IPA, AZA, and PDMS-diacid were reacted all together in DMI in the presence of the catalyst. These polymerizations gave multiblock copolymers having inherent viscosities in the range of 0.36–1.12 dL/g in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). These multiblock copolymers were soluble in amide-type solvents, and transparent (or translucent) and ductile films could be cast from the solutions in a mixture of DMAc and bis(2-ethoxyethyl) ether. The multiblock copolymers prepared by the two-step method had better-defined, microphase-separated morphology than those obtained by the one-step method. The mechanical properties of PDMS–polyamide multiblock copolymer films were found to be highly dependent on the PDMS content; the tensile strength and modulus of the films decreased with increasing the PDMS content.     

Thermoplastic elastomers: fundamentals and applications

Thermoplastic elastomers are multi-functional polymeric materials that generally possess the processability of thermoplastics and the elasticity of vulcanized rubber. Intrinsic thermoplastic elastomers include microphase-separated block and segmented copolymers containing a soft (low-T_g) species. Recent achievements regarding thermoplastic elastomer block and segmented copolymers in the past year have improved the current understanding of (i) complex nanostructures in unary and multicomponent systems and (ii) the thermally-activated sphere→cylinder and cylinder→gyroid order–order transitions. The use of these materials in organogel, electro-responsive and nanocomposite applications illustrates the diversity and future potential of these technologically important materials.     

High-density arrays of titania nanoparticles using monolayer micellar films of diblock copolymers as templates

Highly dense arrays of titania nanoparticles were fabricated using surface micellar films of poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers (PS-b-P2VP) as reaction scaffolds. Titania could be introduced selectively within P2VP nanodomains in PS-b-P2VP films through the binary reaction between water molecules trapped in the P2VP domains and the TiCl(4) vapor precursors. Subsequent UV exposure or oxygen plasma treatment removed the organic matrix, leading to titania nanoparticle arrays on the substrate surface. The diameter of the titania domains and the interparticle distance were defined by the lateral scale present in the microphase-separated morphology of the initial PS-b-P2VP films. The typical diameter of titania nanoparticles obtained by oxygen plasma treatment was of the order of approximately 23 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated for films before and after plasma treatment. Both samples showed PL properties with major physical origin due to self-trapped excitons, indicating that the local environment of the titanium atoms is similar.     

Transmission electron microscopy of saturated hydrocarbon block copolymers

Contrast for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of microphase-separated saturated hydrocarbon diblock copolymers has been obtained using ruthenium tetroxide (RuO₄). This technique exploits differences in the rate of transport of the oxidizing stain in rubbery amorphous versus semicrystalline, or glassy, microdomains. Rapid quenching from above the melting (T_m), or glass transition (T_g) temperature is shown to preserve the equilibrium melt morphology in poly(ethylene)-poly(ethyl-ethylene) (PE-PEE), poly(ethylene)-poly(ethylene-propylene) (PE-PEP), and poly(vinylcyclohexane)-poly(ethyl-ethylene) (PVCH-PEE) diblock copolymers; PE melts at 108°C, PVCH is glassy up to about 140°C, while PEE and PEP remain rubbery down to approximately-20°C and ?56°C, respectively. Treatment of ultrathin sections of the quenched specimens with RuO₄ vapor led to welldefined TEM images, that revealed microdomain type and order. These results are consistent with SANS data taken under equilibrium conditions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nanoporous structured submicrometer carbon fibers prepared via solution electrospinning of polymer blends

A facile means for obtaining submicrometer carbon fibers with a nanoporous structure is presented. A mixture of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate (poly(AN-co-MMA)) in dimethylformamide was electrospun into submicrometer fibers with a microphase-separated structure. During the followed oxidation process, the copolymer domains were pyrolyzed, resulting in a nanoporous structure that was preserved after carbonization. The microphase-separated structure of the PAN/poly(AN-co-MMA) electrospun fibers, the morphology, and porous structure of both the oxidized and the carbonized fibers were observed with scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The carbon fibers have diameters ranging from several hundred nanometers to about 1 microm. The nanopores or nanoslits throughout the fiber surface and interior with diameters of several tens of nanometers are interconnected and oriented along the longitudinal axis of the fibers. This unique nanoporous morphology similar to the microphase-separated structure in the PAN/poly(AN-co-MMA) fibers is attributed to the rapid phase separation, solidification, as well as the stretching of the fibers during electrospinning. The pore volume and pore size distribution of the carbonized fibers were investigated by nitrogen adsorption and desorption.     

Square grains in asymmetric rod-coil block copolymers

Unlike the rounded grains that are well known to form in most soft materials, square grains of microphase-separated lamellae are observed in thin films of a rod-coil block copolymer because of hierarchical structuring originating from the molecular packing of the rods. The square grains are oriented with lamellar layers parallel to the film interface and result from growth along orthogonal low-surface-energy directions as a result of the effects of the tetragonal crystalline lattice that forms within the rod-rich lamellar nanodomains of poly(2,5-di(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene)-b-polyisoprene (PPV-b-PI). These grain shapes form only for a narrow range of coil volume fractions around 72% as a result of kinetic barriers at lower coil fractions and disordering of the lattice at higher coil fractions, and the polydisperse grain size suggests that growth is nucleation-limited. The grains form in both weakly and moderately segregated polymers at all annealing temperatures below the order-disorder transition, and they are observed for all thicknesses at which parallel-oriented grains are grown.     

Synthesis and Microphase Separation Behavior of Random,Mixed Cylindrical Brush Copolymers Bearing Polystyrene and Poly(ε-caprolactone) Side Chains

A series of mixed, random cylindrical brush copolymers bearing polystyrene(PS) and poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) side chains were synthesized via the combination of ring-opening polymerization(ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP). These novel cylindrical brush copolymers have been characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography(GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). It was found that the mikto-armed cylindrical brush copolymers were microphase-separated in bulks and that the morphologies were dependent on the mass ratios of PS to PCL side chains. One of the cylindrical brush copolymers was employed to incorporate into epoxy thermoset to investigate effect of the mikto-armed cylindrical brush architecture on the reaction-induced microphase separation behavior. Depending on the concentration of the cylindrical brush in epoxy, the thermosets can display the morphologies with the spherical, worm-like and lamellar PS microdomains dispersing in continuous thermosetting matrices.