Surface‐initiated photo‐induced copper‐mediated radical polymerization is employed to graft a wide range of polyacrylate brushes from silicon substrates at extremely low catalyst concentrations. This is the first time that the controlled nature of the reported process is demonstrated via block copolymer formation and re‐initiation experiments. In addition to unmatched copper catalyst concentrations in the range of few ppb, film thicknesses up to almost 1 μm are achieved within only 1 h.
To enhance the limited degradability of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a straightforward method of synthesizing poly[(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(glycolic acid)] (P(EG‐co‐GA)) via a ruthenium‐catalyzed, post‐polymerization oxyfunctionalization of various PEGs is developed. Using this method, a set of copolymers with GA compositions of up to 8 mol% are prepared with minimal reduction in molecular weight (<10%) when compared to their commercially available starting materials. The P(EG‐co‐GA) copolymers are shown to undergo hydrolysis under mild conditions.
Dopamine‐containing monomers, N‐3,4‐dihydroxybenzenethyl methacrylamide (DMA) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), are successfully copolymerized in a well‐controlled manner via ambient temperature single‐electron transfer initiation and propagation through the radical addition fragmentation chain transfer (SET‐RAFT) method. The controlled behaviors of the copolymerization are confirmed by the first‐order kinetic plots, the linear relationships between molecular weights, and the monomer conversions while keeping relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.45). Moreover, biomimetic self‐assembly of poly(N‐3,4‐dihydroxybenzenethyl methacrylamide‐co‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) PDMA‐co‐PDMAEMA and inorganic particles are employed to prepare tunable honeycomb‐like porous hybrid particles (HPHPs) by regulating the predesigned chemical composition. In addition, the inorganic sacrificial templates are successfully selective etched for the formation of porous organic materials.
A supramolecular block copolymer is prepared by the molecular recognition of nucleobases between poly(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate‐co‐oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)‐SS‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐adenine (P(MEO2MA‐co‐OEGMA)‐SS‐PCL‐A) and uracil‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐U). Because the block copolymer is linked by the combination of covalent (disulfide bond) and noncovalent (A U) bonds, it not only has similar properties to conventional covalently linked block copolymers but also possesses a dynamic and tunable nature. The copolymer can self‐assemble into micelles with a PCL core and P(MEO2MA‐co‐OEGMA)/PEG shell. The size and morphologies of the micelles/aggregates can be adjusted by altering the temperature, pH, salt concentration, or adding dithiothreitol (DTT) to the solution. The controlled release of Nile red is achieved at different environmental conditions.
Lignin‐grafted copolymers, namely lignin‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (lignin‐g‐P(MMA‐co‐BA)), are synthesized via “grafting from” atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with the aid of lignin‐based macroinitiators. By manipulating the monomer feed ratios of MMA/BA, grafted copolymers with tunable glass transition temperatures (−10–40 °C) are obtained. These copolymers are evaluated as sustainable thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The results suggest that the mechanical properties of these TPEs lignin‐g‐P(MMA‐co‐BA) copolymers are improved significantly by comparing with those of linear P(MMA‐co‐BA) copolymer counterparts, and the elastic strain recovery is nearly 70%. Lignin‐g‐P(MMA‐co‐BA) copolymers exhibit high absorption in the range of the UV spectrum, which might allow for applications in UV‐blocking coatings.
Copolymers of 2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) and 2‐(tert‐Boc‐amino)ethyl acrylate (t BocAEA) are synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in a controlled manner with defined molar masses and narrow molar masses distributions (Ð ≤ 1.17). Molar compositions of the P(DMAEA‐co‐t BocAEA) copolymers are assessed by means of 1H NMR. A complete screening in molar composition is studied from 0% of DMAEA to 100% of DMAEA. Reactivity ratios of both comonomers are determined by the extended Kelen–Tüdos method (r DMAEA = 0.81 and rtBocAEA = 0.99).
A novel oral delivery system consisting of thermoresponsive zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) and pH‐responsive poly(2‐(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) is synthesized via free radical polymerization. This copolymer can self‐aggregate into nanoparticles via electrostatic attraction between ammonium cation and sulfo‐anion of PSBMA and successfully encapsulate anticancer drug, curcumin (CUR), with highest loading content of 2.6% in the P(SBMA‐co‐DPA) nanoparticles. The stimuli‐responsive phase transition behaviors of P(SBMA‐co‐DPA) copolymers at different pH buffer solution show pH‐dependent upper critical solution temperature (UCST) attributed to the influence of protonation/deprotonation of the pH‐responsive DPA segments. Through the delicate adjustment of the PSBMA/PDPA molar ratios, the stimuli‐responsive phase transition could be suitable for physiological environment. The kinetic drug release profiles demonstrate that P(SBMA‐co‐DPA) nanoparticles have the potential as oral delivery carriers due to their effective release of entrapped drugs in the stimulated intestinal fluid and preventing the deterioration of drug in stimulated gastric fluid.
The self‐assembled nanostructures of a high‐molecular‐weight rod–coil block copolymer, poly(styrene‐block‐(2,5‐bis[4‐methoxyphenyl]oxycarbonyl)styrene) (PS‐b‐PMPCS), in p‐xylene are studied. The cylindrical micelles, long segmental cylindrical micelle associates, spherical micelles, and spherical micelle associates are observed with increased copolymer concentration. The high molecular weight of PS leads to the entanglement between PS chains from different micelles, which is the force for supramolecular interactions. Short cylindrical micelles are connected end‐to‐end via this supramolecular chemistry to form long segmental cylindrical micelle associates, analogue to the condensation polymerization process, with direction and saturation. On the other hand, spherical micelles assemble via supramolecular chemistry to form spherical micelle associates, yet without any direction due to their isotropic properties.
The synthesis of symmetric cyclo poly(ε‐caprolactone)–block–poly(l (d )‐lactide) (c(PCL–b–PL(D)LA)) by combining ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and lactides and subsequent click chemistry reaction of the linear precursors containing antagonist functionalities is presented. The two blocks can sequentially crystallize and self‐assemble into double crystalline spherulitic superstructures. The cyclic chain topology significantly affects both the nucleation and the crystallization of each constituent, as gathered from a comparison of the behavior of linear precursors and cyclic block copolymers. The stereochemistry of the PLA block does not have a significant effect on the nonisothermal crystallization of both linear and cyclo PCL‐b‐PDLA and PCL‐b‐PLLA copolymers.
Well‐defined poly(2,5‐dihexyloxyphenylene‐1,4‐diyl) (PPP) is successfully synthesized by the Negishi catalyst‐transfer polycondensation (NCTP) using dilithium tetra(tert‐butyl)zincate (tBu4ZnLi2). The obtained PPP possesses the number‐averaged molecular weight (M n) values in the range of 2100–22 000 and the molar‐mass dispersity (Ð M) values in the range of 1.09–1.23. In addition, block copolymers containing PPP and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) segments (PPP‐b‐P3HT) are synthesized to confirm the feasibility of chain extension between the different monomers based on NCTP.
The polymerisation of N‐acryloylmorpholine in water is reported utilising Cu(0)‐mediated living radical polymerisation (SET‐LRP). The inherent instability of [CuI(Me6‐Tren)Br] in aqueous solution is exploited via rapid disproportionation to prepare Cu(0) particles and [CuII(Me6‐Tren)Br2] in situ prior to addition of monomer and initiator. Quantitative conversion is attained within 30 min for various degrees of polymerisation (DPn = 20–640) with SEC showing symmetrical narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ < 1.18) in all cases. Optimised conditions are subsequently applied for the preparation of a diblock copolymer poly(NIPAm)‐b‐(N‐acryloylmorpholine), illustrating the versatility of this approach.
Electron‐deficient heterocycle 1,3,4‐oxadiazole is first introduced to the 2‐position of thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene (TT) to construct a new building block 2‐(thieno[3,4‐b]thiophen‐2‐yl)‐5‐(alkylthio)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (TTSO) with alkylthio chain. The polymer PBDT–TTSO based on TTSO and benzodithiophene (BDT) exhibits a deep lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of −5.32 eV and low‐bandgap of 1.62 eV. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.86% is obtained with a relatively high VOC of 0.74 V, a JSC of 13.1 mA cm−2, and FF of 60.5%. Furthermore, as S atom in thioether can be oxidized easily, the optoelectronic properties of PBDT–TTSO treated with different oxidants are preliminary investigated. Interestingly, the oxidation products still maintain high PCE with reduction less than 30%. This work demonstrates a new method to regulate HOMO energy levels by introducing electron‐deficient aromatic heterocyclic moiety.
A commercially available palladium N‐heterocyclic carbene (Pd‐NHC) precatalyst is used to initiate chain‐growth polymerization of 2‐bromo‐3‐hexyl‐5‐trimethylstannylthiophene. The molecular weight of the resultant poly(3‐hexylthiophene) can be modulated (7 to 73 kDa, Đ = 1.14 to 1.53) by varying the catalyst concentration. Mass spectrometry data confirm control over the polymer end groups and 1H NMR spectroscopy reveals that the palladium catalyst is capable of “ring‐walking”. A linear relationship between Mn and monomer conversion is observed. Atomic force microscopy and X‐ray scattering verify the regioregular nature of the resultant polythiophene.
The polymerization of ocimene has been first achieved by half‐sandwich rare‐earth metal dialkyl complexes in combination with activator and AliBu3. The regio‐ and stereoselectivity in the ocimene polymerization can be controlled by tuning the cyclopentadienyl ligand and the central metal of the complex. The chiral cyclopentadienyl‐ligated Sc complex 1 prepares syndiotactic cis‐1,4‐polyocimene (cis‐1,4‐selectivity up to 100%, rrrr = 100%), while the corresponding Lu, Y, and Dy complexes 2 – 4 and the achiral pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Sc, Lu, and Y complexes 5 – 7 afford isotactic trans‐1,2‐polyocimenes (trans‐1,2‐selectivity up to 100%, mm = 100%).
In this research, the synthesis of boron‐ketoiminate‐containing polymers is reported with large molecular weights ( = 20 000) and their optical properties are examined by UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrometries. It is shown that the polymers exhibit strong emission both in the solution and solid states (ΦPL,THF = 0.46–0.80, ΦPL,film = 0.13–0.38). These optical properties can be explained by a donor–acceptor interaction between the boron ketoiminate and the electron‐donating comonomer such as fluorene or bithiophene. Furthermore, in the solid states, their emission colors can be successfully tuned from blue to orange by the substituents on the nitrogen atom with the difference of the steric hindrance (λPL,THF = 464–546 nm, λPL,film = 486–604 nm).
The phase behavior of block copolymer based supramolecular complexes polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) and amphiphilic pentadecylphenol (PDP) molecules resembles the phase behavior of conventional block copolymers. Several PS‐b‐P4VP(PDP) complexes are found to self‐assemble into gyroid nanostructures. Typically, the grains are randomly oriented with a maximal size of several micrometers. Here, the orientation of a gyroid PS‐b‐P4VP(PDP) complex upon shearing is reported. It is found that the (111) gyroid lattice direction orients parallel to the shear direction after only several seconds of large amplitude oscillatory shearing. Oriented gyroid complexes can be used as templates for the preparation of metal nanofoams with improved ordering with potentially superior properties.
The structural evolution in poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene) (P(S‐b‐B)) diblock copolymer thin films during solvent vapor treatment is investigated in situ using time‐resolved grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS). Using incident angles above and below the polymer critical angle, structural changes near the film surface and in the entire film are distinguished. The swelling of the film is one‐dimensional along the normal of the substrate. During swelling, the initially perpendicular lamellae tilt within the film to be able to shrink. In contrast, at the film surface, the lamellae stay perpendicular, and eventually vanish at the expense of a thin PB wetting layer. During the subsequent drying, the perpendicular lamellae reappear at the surface, and finally, PS blocks protrude. By modeling, the time‐dependent height of the protrusions can be quantitatively extracted.
New monolithic materials comprising zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐8) located on the pore surface of poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith previously functionalized with N‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐imidazole have been prepared via a layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly strategy. These new ZIF‐8@monolith hybrids are used as solid‐phase carriers for enzyme immobilization. Their performance is demonstrated with immobilization of a model proteolytic enzyme trypsin. The best of the conjugates enable very efficient digestion of proteins that can be achieved in mere 43 s.
Organic electrochromic materials change color rapidly under applied potential. A butterfly‐shaped compound, 5,5′,‐5″,‐5′″‐(thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐2,3,5,6‐tetrayl) tetrakis‐(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxine) (t‐EDOT‐TT) is synthesized for the first time and polymerized at different potentials via electropolymerization technique. By applying different polymerization potentials, the optical and electrochromic properties of this newly synthesized polymer can be tuned. Owing to the dependence of functional group position in the polymer structure on the redox potential, this polymer can be utilized in very interesting organic optoelectronic applications.
Nanotubes have attracted considerable attention due to their unique 1D hollow structure; however, the fabrication of pure nanotubes via block copolymer self‐assembly remains a challenge. In this work, the successful preparation of core–shell–corona (CSC) nanotubular micelles with uniform diameter and high aspect ratio is reported, which is achieved via self‐assembly of a poly (styrene‐b‐4‐vinyl pyridine‐b‐ethylene oxide) triblock terpolymer in binary organic solvents with assistance of solution thermal annealing. Via direct visualization of trapped intermediates, the nanotube is believed to be formed via large sphere—large solid cylinderical aggregates—nanotube transformations, wherein the unique solid to hollow transition accompanied with the unidirectional growth is distinct from conventional pathway. In addition, by virtue of the CSC structure, gold nanoparticles are able to be selectively incorporated into different micellar domains of the nanotubes, which may have potential applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
