Morphology of rhenium complex-containing polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) and its use as self-assembly templates for nanoparticles

Polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) was functionalized with a chlorotricarbonyl rhenium(I) diimine complex. Compared to the metal-free copolymer, the copolymer-metal complex exhibited different morphologies, which are highly sensitive to the solvent used for spin-coating and the surface properties of the substrates. Well-defined cylindrical or spherical domains were observed. Due to its ionic nature, the poly(4-vinylpyridine)--rhenium complex block could also serve as a template for subsequent deposition of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles by electrostatic attraction. The pattern of the deposited nanoparticles was found to be the replica of the block copolymer underneath, and their presence on the film surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Modification of one side of mulberry silk fabric by monochromatic VUV excimer lamp

One side of mulberry silk fabric surface was irradiated with monochromatic VUV excimer lamp (172 nm). Change in surface morphology due to one side (I) and two side (II) irradiation was analyzed using high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The irradiated samples were further characterized through measurement of wetting time, vertical and horizontal wicking. Surface nanopores of 100 nm × 10 nm were formed on the irradiated side, however, on back side change in morphology was not observed. Upon one side irradiation the wettability and wickability improved significantly. One side irradiated silk surface (I) showed average wetting time of 14.7 s and 7.2 s while the two side irradiated silk surface (II) showed a wetting time of 9.3 s and 3.1 s for irradiation period of 1 min and 5 min, respectively. Beyond 5 min of irradiation the wettability of both the surfaces stabilized. Mechanism responsible for wetting behaviour of one side irradiated sample has been proposed. The influence of lamp geometry on irradiation effect was found to be noticeable for irradiation timings <5 min.     

Liquid nanodroplets spreading on chemically patterned surfaces

Controlling the spatial distribution of liquid droplets on surfaces via surface energy patterning can be used to deliver material to specified regions via selective liquid/solid wetting. Although studies of the equilibrium shape of liquid droplets on heterogeneous substrates exist, much less is known about the corresponding wetting kinetics. Here we present large-scale atomistic simulations of liquid nanodroplets spreading on chemically patterned surfaces. Results are presented for lines of polymer liquid (droplets) on substrates consisting of alternating strips of wetting (equilibrium contact angle theta0 = 0 degrees) and nonwetting (theta0 approximately 90 degrees) material. Droplet spreading is compared for different wavelength lambda of the pattern and strength of surface interaction on the wetting strips. For small lambda, droplets partially spread on both the wetting and nonwetting regions of the substrate to attain a finite contact angle less than 90 degrees. In this case, the extent of spreading depends on the interaction strength in the wetting regions. A transition is observed such that, for large lambda, the droplet spreads only on the wetting region of the substrate by pulling material from nonwetting regions. In most cases, a precursor film spreads on the wetting portion of the substrate at a rate strongly dependent on the width of the wetting region.     

Design of water-soluble block copolymers containing poly(4-vinylpyridine) by atom transfer radical polymerization

The preparation of block copolymers consisting of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was investigated. The goal was to synthesize water-soluble block copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as first block, a water-soluble polymer at any pH. First, a PEO macroinitiator was prepared for the ATRP block copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine. In the second stage, the kinetic behaviour of this block copolymerization was investigated for two different types of PEO-macroinitiators and catalyst systems, based on CuCl or CuCl₂/Cu(0), with tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me₆-TREN) as the ligand. Various combinations of initiator and catalyst led to a controlled block copolymerization with optimized results obtained for chlorinated poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether as macroinitiator, together with CuCl₂/Cu(0)/Me₆-TREN as catalyst system. With the latter system, narrow polydispersities (1.25) could be reached for PEO-P4VP block copolymers.     

Preparation and structural characterization of polymer-supported methylrhenium trioxide systems as efficient and selective catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins

Novel heterogeneous compounds of methylrhenium trioxide (MTO) were prepared with poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polystyrene as polymeric supports. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS.) analysis, performed by the application of the difference method, showed, in a representative case of the poly(4-vinylpyridine)/MTO derivatives, a slightly distorted octahedral conformation on the metal's primary coordination sphere. The Re-O and Re-C bond distances were not influenced by the polymeric nature of the ligand, while the Re-N bond distance was abnormally shorter than those previously observed for homogeneous MTO/L(n) complexes, showing a strong coordination of the rhenium atom to the support. A set of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs showing the morphology of the surface of particles of poly(4-vinylpyridine)/MTO and polystyrene/MTO systems are reported. The reticulation grade of the polymer was a crucial factor for the morphology of the particles surface. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) 2% cross-linked systems were characterized by particles with very irregular shape and surface. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) 25% cross-linked systems showed particles with regular spherical shape, which morphology was similar to microcapsules obtained with polystyrene. All novel MTO compounds were efficient and selective heterogeneous catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins using environmentally friendly H2O2 as oxygen atom donor. The catalyst activity was maintained for at least five recycling experiments.     

Single chain distribution analysis near a substrate using a combined method of three-dimensional imaging and SCF simulation

The effect of preferential wetting of one of the constituent block chains and corresponding block copolymer morphologies to a carbon substrate is studied from a molecular level. The single chain distribution of the block copolymer was estimated as a function of the distance from the substrate by a combined method of transmission electron microtomography (TEMT) and self-consistent field (SCF) simulation. The former provides three-dimensional (3D) morphological information of cylindrical microdomains near the surface, while the latter utilizes the 3D morphology to quantitatively determine the interaction between the block chains and substrate, which is further used to estimate the single chain distribution of one of the block chains, i.e., the subchain, of the matrix. It was found that the subchains in the vicinity of the wetting layer are substantially compressed, while the radius of gyration of the subchain at a distance L (L is the interlayer distance of the cylindrical microdomains from the substrate) has already reached the same value as that in the bulk, indicating that the propagation of the surface interaction is limited to one layer. The methodology developed in this study can be used not only to estimate the surface effect on polymer chains for a variety of different surfaces, but also to provide a means to understand complicated block copolymer morphologies from a molecular level.     

Template-directed adsorption of block copolymers on alkanethiol-patterned gold surfaces

Functionalized alkanethiols have been self-assembled on gold to modify the wetting properties of the surface and promote or hinder the adsorption of block copolymers containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of spin-coated polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO) copolymers on 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA)-, octadecanethiol (ODT)-, and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT)-covered surfaces have been performed. In the case of an 80 wt % PEO block copolymer, spin-coating on a gold surface precovered with MHDA results in a polymer film thick enough to completely attenuate Au 4f photoelectrons; spin-coating on the more hydrophobic ODT and PFDT monolayers leads to significantly thinner polymer films and incomplete attenuation of the gold photoelectrons. The opposite results are observed when a 20 wt % PEO block copolymer is used. Angle-resolved XPS studies of the 80 wt % PEO block copolymer spin-coated onto an MHDA-covered surface indicate that the PE blocks of the polymer segregate to the near-surface region, oriented away from the hydrophilic carboxylic acid tails of the monolayers; the surface concentration of PE is further enhanced by annealing at 90 degrees C. Microcontact printing and dip-pen nanolithography have been used to pattern gold surfaces with MHDA, and the surfaces have been backfilled with ODT or PFDT, such that the unpatterned regions of the surface are covered with hydrophobic monolayers. In the case of backfilling with PFDT, spin-coating the 80 wt % PEO copolymer onto these patterned surfaces and subsequent annealing results in the block copolymer preferentially adsorbing on the MHDA-covered regions and forming well-defined patterns that mimic the MHDA pattern, as determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Significantly worse patterning, characterized by micron-sized polymer droplets, results when the surface is backfilled with ODT instead of PFDT. Using PFDT and MHDA, polymer features having widths as small as 500 nm have been formed. These studies demonstrate a novel method to pattern block copolymers with nanoscale resolution.     

Supramolecular Complex of Poly(styrene)-b-Poly(4-vinylpyridine) and 1-Pyrenebutyric Acid in Thin Film

Summary: Here, we have described a novel supramolecular complex (SMC) between poly(styrene)-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) and 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) and studied of its self assembly in thin film. PBA will make supramolecular complex with the P4VP block due to strong hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic group of 1-pyrenebutyric acid and pyridine ring of P4VP. The formation of supramolecular complex between PS-P4VP and PBA through hydrogen bonding is investigated through FTIR study. The supramolecular complex of PS-b-P4VP and 1-pyrenebutyric acid changed the block copolymer morphology from cylindrical to lamella in thin film due to the increase of the volume fraction of P4VP (PBA). In both cases (parent block copolymer and SMC), the microdomains are oriented normal to the substrate after annealing in a selective solvent. Pure block copolymer shows cylindrical morphology with a periodicity of ∼26 nm, whereas the SMC shows lamellar morphology with a periodicity of ∼ 29 nm. After fabricating the thin film from SMC, 1-pyrenebutyric acid can be easily removed by dissolving the thin film in ethanol to transform the block copolymer thin film into nanotemplate or membrane.     

A simple method to prepare highly ordered PS-b-P4VP block copolymer template

A control strategy for tuning the film morphology of asymmetric polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) block copolymers (BCPs) is reported. After preparation of the film by spin-coating method, the as-cast films were annealed in different solvent vapor. It is found that chloroform is a wonderful solvent for forming PS-b-P4VP regular pattern. Otherwise, with changing the concentration of PS-b-P4VP, cylindrical or parallel nanostructures could be attained. The PS-b-P4VP films with cylindrical structure are used as template to deposit FePt nanoparticles into the pores. Nanoparticles reaching the bottom of the holes form a disordered magnetic array.     

Tuning the morphology of amphiphilic copolymer aggregates by compound emulsifier via emulsion–solvent evaporation

A series of poly(4-vinylpyridine)-b-poly{6-[4-(4-butyloxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate} (P4VP-b-PAzoMA) were employed to fabricate aggregates via the emulsion–solvent evaporation method. The emulsion was stabilized by compound emulsifier composed of SDS and span60. By tuning the ratio of two emulsifiers, P4VP-b-PAzoMA could self-assemble into various morphologies including porous microspheres, tremella-like aggregates, bowl-like aggregates and wrinkled microspheres. The transformation of the morphologies could be ascribed to three major aspects: the stability of emulsified chloroform droplets, the permeation of water into chloroform and the dispersity of the interior water droplets with regard to different HLB values. Besides, the morphology could even be tuned by changing the block ratio and the concentration of P4VP-b-PAzoMA, and the HLB dependent morphology changing was also proved within other block ratio or different concentration. The study uncovers a convenient and effective technique to manipulate the morphology of amphiphilic copolymer aggregates.     

Formation of a highly ordered dot array of surface micelles of a block copolymer via liquid crystal-hybridized self-assembly

A highly ordered dot array pattern of surface micelles on water is formed by a spread monolayer of an amphiphilic block copolymer, polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-4VP), via hybridization with a liquid crystal molecule, 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), on water. Simple co-spreading of PS-4VP with 5CB provides a flat homogeneous monolayer of PS-4VP on water without the aggregation of PS blocks. With increasing surface pressure, well-defined dots of the PS blocks start to grow and are arrayed in a highly ordered hexagonal structure. The exact coincidence of the surface pressure-area curves for the hybrid monolayer in the compression and expansion processes confirms that the flat spread monolayer and the dot array are formed on water in the equilibrium state by a self-assembly process.     

Formation of ordered microphase-separated pattern during spin coating of ABC triblock copolymer

In this paper, the authors have systematically studied the microphase separation and crystallization during spin coating of an ABC triblock copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO). The microphase separation of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO and the crystallization of PEO blocks can be modulated by the types of the solvent and the substrate, the spinning speed, and the copolymer concentration. Ordered microphase-separated pattern, where PEO and P2VP blocks adsorbed to the substrate and PS blocks protrusions formed hexagonal dots above the P2VP domains, can only be obtained when PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO is dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide and the films are spin coated onto the polar substrate, silicon wafers or mica. The mechanism of the formation of regular pattern by microphase separation is found to be mainly related to the inducement of the substrate (middle block P2VP wetting the polar substrate), the quick vanishment of the solvent during the early stage of the spin coating, and the slow evaporation of the remaining solvent during the subsequent stage. On the other hand, the probability of the crystallization of PEO blocks during spin coating decreases with the reduced film thickness. When the film thickness reaches a certain value (3.0 nm), the extensive crystallization of PEO is effectively prohibited and ordered microphase-separated pattern over large areas can be routinely prepared. When the film thickness exceeds another definite value (12.0 nm), the crystallization of PEO dominates the surface morphology. For films with thickness between these two values, microphase separation and crystallization can simultaneously occur.     

Novel Polyurethane Multiblock Copolymers and Their Zwitterionomers Using a Polyurethane Macroiniferter

Abstract

Polyurethane-poly(4-vinylpyridine) multiblock copolymers have been prepared by the decomposition of a tetraphenylethane-based polyurethane macroiniferter in the presence of 4-vinylpyridine. The increase in the molecular weight and conversion with an increase in polymerization time proves the “living” radical mechanism. The polyurethane-poly(4-vinylpyridine) multiblock copolymers so obtained were converted into their zwitterionomers by treating with γ-propane sultone. Both block copolymers and their zwitterionomers have been characterized using spectral and thermal techniques.     

Supramolecular side chain liquid crystal polymers II. Interaction of mesogenic acids and amorphous polymers

The thermal behaviour of blends of a low molar mass mesogenic acid, 6-(4-n-butyloxy-4'-oxybiphenyl)hexanoic acid (BOBPOHA) with polystyrene, poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) has been characterized. BOBPOHA exhibits a monotropic smectic A phase and is essentially immiscible with polystyrene. Thus, the transition temperatures of the acid are independent of blend composition. In contrast, the thermal properties of the acid are strongly modified on blending with poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(4-vinylpyridine). Molecular mixing occurs in these blends below approximately 0.2 mol fraction of acid. This miscibility is driven by the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pyridyl and acid moieties. At higher concentrations of acid, phase separation occurs. Liquid crystallinity is not observed in the miscible blends while in the immiscible blends mesomorphic behaviour is attributed to regions of phase separated acid.     

Preparation of silica-coated poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) particles and hollow particles

This paper presents a novel method for preparation of polymer-silica colloidal nanocomposites based on emulsion polymerization and subsequent sol-gel nanocoating process. The polystyrene latex particles bearing basic groups on their surfaces were successfully synthesized through emulsion polymerization using 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) as a functional comonomer and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surfactant. A series of poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine)/SiO2 nanocomposite particles with smooth or rough core-shell morphology were obtained through the coating process. The poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) particles could be dissolved subsequently or simultaneously during the sol-gel coating process to form hollow particles. The effects of the amount of 4VP, PVP, NH(4)OH, and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) on both the nanocomposite particles and hollow particles were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the morphology of the nanocomposite particles and hollow particles was strongly influenced by the initial feed of the comonomer 4VP and the coupling agent PVP. The conditions to obtain all hollow particles were also studied. Thermogravimetric analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses indicated that the interiors of hollow particles were not really "hollow".     

Hydrogen-bonding-directed layer-by-layer polymer films: Substrate effect on the microporous morphology variation

The layer-by-layer (LbL) films composed of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and poly(acrylic acid) were assembled on four kinds of different substrates and their morphology variation in basic solution was comparatively studied. It was discovered that the morphology variation of the films on hydroxyl-tailored substrates was much faster than on amino-tailored substrates. Similarly, the films on carboxyl-tailored substrates could more easily yield microporous morphology than on amino-tailored substrates. The experiment results indicated that substrates played a critical role in the formation and variation process of the microporous morphology. The attractive interaction between substrates and PVP influenced the reconformation/aggregation of poly(4-vinylpyridine) chains, which led to gradually variational microporous morphology. The stronger attraction between substrates and PVP would result in slower microporous morphology variation. The investigation results in this article not only have provided some helpful experience for controlling microporous films but also have deepened the understanding of the formation mechanism of microporous morphology.     

Nanoscale patterning of two metals on silicon surfaces using an ABC triblock copolymer template

Patterning technologically important semiconductor interfaces with nanoscale metal films is important for applications such as metallic interconnects and sensing applications. Self-assembling block copolymer templates are utilized to pattern an aqueous metal reduction reaction, galvanic displacement, on silicon surfaces. Utilization of a triblock copolymer monolayer film, polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO), with two blocks capable of selective transport of different metal complexes to the surface (PEO and P2VP), allows for chemical discrimination and nanoscale patterning. Different regions of the self-assembled structure discriminate between metal complexes at the silicon surface, at which time they undergo the spontaneous reaction at the interface. Gold deposition from gold(III) compounds such as HAuCl4(aq) in the presence of hydrofluoric acid mirrors the parent block copolymer core structure, whereas silver deposition from Ag(I) salts such as AgNO3(aq) does the opposite, localizing exclusively under the corona. By carrying out gold deposition first and silver second, sub-100-nm gold features surrounded by silver films can be produced. The chemical selectivity was extended to other metals, including copper, palladium, and platinum. The interfaces were characterized by a variety of methods, including scanning electron microscopy, scanning Auger microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.     

Dynamic wettability properties of a soft contact lens hydrogel

The wettability of poly[2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid] (pHEMA-MAA) soft contact lenses was investigated in the absence and presence of block copolymer surfactants and lysozyme using the sessile drop method. The advancing dynamic contact angles (Thetaw/a) values are reported for water as a function of sequential wetting and drying cycles. The Thetaw/a values for the pHEMA-MAA in the absence of surfactant and lysozyme increased from approximately 20 degrees to 100 degrees as the number of cycles increased from two to ten, and they were independent of the pHEMA-MAA bulk water content. The change from the highly hydrophilic to hydrophobic pHEMA-MAA surface could not be reversed using the sequential wetting and drying cycles even under repeated exposures to saline solution. The effect of block copolymer surfactants with different molecular weights (MW) and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values on the pHEMA-MAA wettability were also studied. Low Theta(w/a) values were observed for pHEMA-MAA hydrogels that were treated with T1304 (MW 10500, HLB 14) and T904 (MW 6700, HLB 15). The surface tension data indicated that these surfactants were incompletely desorbed from the pHEMA-MAA and that the rate of desorption was slow in the timescale of the cycling experiments. Comparatively, poor wettability was observed for pHEMA-MAA surfaces presoaked in T304 (MW 1650, HLB 16) and T1107 (MW 15000, HLB 24) as Thetaw/a values greater than 90 degrees were measured for these surfactants. The surface tension data indicated that the rate of desorption of T304 and T1107 from the pHEMA-MAA was rapid and that they had a low affinity to the pHEMA-MAA. High contact angles were observed for the pHEMA-MAA hydrogels treated with lysozyme and also for the T1107 presoaked pHEMA-MAA that was also treated with lysozyme. Zero wetting angles throughout the sequential cycling were observed for the T1304 pre-treated pHEMA-MAA that had been treated with lysozyme. These results suggested that the adsorbed lysozyme on the pHEMA-MAA hydrogel had no significant influence on its wetting properties when the hydrogel was pre-treated with T1304.     

Polymer aggregates formed by polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl-pyridine) functionalized with rhenium(I) 2,2′-bipyridyl complexes

Some metal containing block copolymers derived from polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) were synthesized. The complexation was achieved by reacting the poly(4-vinylpyridine) block with 2,2′-bipyridyl(tricarbonyl)rhenium(I) chloride in the presence of silver perchlorate. The resulting polymer metal complexes are able to form micelles in different solvent systems. The morphologies were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and the structure of the micelles was found to be solvent dependent.     

Reactions on polymers with amine groups. I. Reactions of vinylpridine polymers and of their model compounds with unsaturated carboxylic acids

The reactions of vinylpyridine polymers with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic, methacrylic, crotonic, itaconic, cinnamic, fumaric, and maleic acids were studied. It was found that, when reacted with acrylic, itaconic and fumaric acids. poly(4-vinylpyridine) gave macromolecular betaine products while with maleic acid, betaine as well as the corresponding salt was obtained. Poly(2-vinylpyridine) reacted with the same acids as poly(4-vinylpyridine) gave only the salts. No significant changes were observed with the two polymers when reacted with methacrylic, crotonic, and cinnamic acids. To attempt to rationalize these observations with the two macromolecular tertiary amines, the reactions of 4-methyl and 2-methylpyridines with the same carboxylic acids were investigated. The ¹H-NMR methodology was generally applied to elucidate the chemical structure obtained. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.