苯乙烯-p-乙烯基苯甲酸两亲性嵌段共聚物在乙醇中自组装行为的电镜观察

两亲性嵌段共聚物在只对其中一链段为良溶剂的选择性溶剂中 ,能够自组装形成胶束 .胶束的形态和尺寸大小依赖于两链段的性质 ,共聚物的组成、浓度、溶剂的性质等[1] .这一性质使得嵌段共聚物在分子识别、药物和其他物质的输送、基因疗法、水系涂料、污染物的除去、纳米复合材料的制备、催化剂以及传感器等方面展示着潜在的应用前景 .因此 ,两亲性嵌段共聚物的合成及其在选择性溶剂中的自组装行为的研究近年来颇受关注[2 ] .依据两链段的比例不同 ,嵌段共聚物可形成星状胶束和“板寸头”(Ｃｒｅｗ ｃｕｔ)型胶束[3 ] .当可溶段远比不溶段长时…     

由可控聚合反应直接制备不同形貌的聚集体

由可控聚合,包括活性阴离子和自由基聚合直接制备不同形貌纳米材料,是近几年来合成化学领域的一个重要研究成果.与两亲性嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中自组装方法不同,在选择性溶剂中进行的分散聚合,首先生成两亲性嵌段共聚物,并逐渐增加第二段聚合物的链长,以实现相分离,形成球形胶束;聚合物链继续增长,实现形貌转变,从而制备预期的聚合物形貌,包括球形胶束、纳米棒、纳米线、囊泡和复合囊泡等.本文综述了乳液聚合法制备球形胶束等形貌;描述了不同聚合体系形成的形貌以及它们的性质和应用,讨论了形貌的形成机理和控制方法,同时指出了存在的问题.     

多嵌段共聚物(P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP)_n的胶束化行为研究

研究了一系列具有不同链段长度和组成的聚4-乙烯基吡啶-聚苯乙烯-聚4-乙烯基吡啶多嵌段共聚物(P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP)n在其选择性溶剂甲苯和pH<3的水中的胶束化过程,主要研究了多嵌段共聚物链段长度、溶液浓度和溶剂对其胶束形态的影响.透射电镜和原子力显微镜结果表明随着P4VP段链的相对增长,多嵌段共聚物在甲苯中的胶束形态由蠕虫链状向短棒状到球状胶束变化,而其在pH<3的水溶液中均形成球形胶束.由于特殊的链结构,聚合物的浓度对(P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP)n多嵌段共聚物的胶束行为和胶束形态有着重要的影响.同时,(P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP)n多嵌段共聚物分子量分布的多分散性对其在选择性溶剂中的胶束形态也有所影响.     

Comb-coil型聚(苯乙烯-异戊二烯)共聚物在正烷烃中的自组装

借助动态光散射(DLS)和原子力显微镜(AFM)研究了具有复杂结构的comb-coil型聚苯乙烯-异戊二烯嵌段共聚物(S-graft-I)-block-S在聚异戊二烯(PI)选择性溶剂正烷烃中的自组装行为. 结果表明comb-coil型分子在庚烷中形成球形胶束. 同时, 这些胶束的尺寸显示出独特的双分布现象. 除常见的PS-PI相分离机理外, 我们还提出一种comb-coil相分离机理. 这些双分布胶束的形成可能正是两种相分离机理共存的结果. 此外, 借助透射电镜(TEM)进一步研究了选择性、接枝度和接枝链长度对自组装行为的影响. 研究发现增加溶剂选择性或增加接枝链链长以及接枝度, 有利于两种尺寸的胶束的形成以及对应分布峰的完全分离.     

AB型聚乙二醇单甲醚-聚(L-丙氨酸)嵌段共聚物自组装过程的核磁共振研究

利用核磁共振方法研究了AB型双嵌段共聚物(MPEG45-b-PA32)在选择性溶剂中的自组装行为及胶束化过程.嵌段共聚物在三氟乙酸中聚氨基酸和聚乙二醇链段均处于自由运动状态,聚丙氨酸链段为无规线团结构.在向该溶液中逐渐加入氘代水的过程中,聚丙氨酸链段又重新聚集形成规整的二级结构.结合1H-NMR和COSY谱分析,结果显示这一自组装过程伴随着聚(L-丙氨酸)链段由无规线团向α-螺旋结构的构象转变,同时嵌段共聚物逐渐形成核-壳型胶束结构.利用透射电镜观察了所形成胶束的形态,嵌段共聚物主要形成粒径150 nm到220 nm的球形胶束.     

分子量规整聚p-乙烯基苯甲酸及苯乙烯p-乙烯基苯甲酸两嵌段共聚物的合成

当两嵌段共聚物为由性质不同的规制 (Ｗｅｌｌ ｄｅｆｉｎｅｄ)分子量两链段所构成时 ,在只对其中一链段为良溶剂的选择性溶剂中 ,它能够自组装形成尺寸均一的胶束 .胶束的形态与共聚物的组成、浓度、溶剂的性质等关系密切[1] .因此 ,两嵌段共聚物的合成颇被关注[2 ] .这一性质使得嵌段共聚物在分子识别、药物和其他物质的输送、基因疗法、水系涂料、污染物的除去、催化剂以及传感器等方面展示着潜在的应用前景 .规制分子量的两嵌段共聚合物的合成主要通过阴离子、阳离子、开环易位、基团转移等活性或可控聚合来实现 .但是这些方法受到单体…     

聚苯乙烯-丙烯酸嵌段共聚物在不同pH值和Ca2+浓度下的胶束行为

近年来, 对具有纳米尺寸的聚合物自组装结构的研究日益增多. 其中, 嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中的胶束行为研究得最为广泛和深入[1~5]. 纳米胶束表现出诸多常规尺寸材料所不具备的特殊性能, 在材料化学、生物医学以及环境科学等领域有广阔的应用前景. Webber等[6]对聚丙烯酸和聚苯乙烯接枝共聚物的研究发现, 聚合物的接枝率和聚合物浓度以及溶液离子强度对胶束结构有影响; Eisenberg等[1,7]对不同嵌段比例的苯乙烯-丙烯酸嵌段共聚物的自组装行为进行研究发现, 不同嵌段比例所对应的胶束结构不同. 胶束形成的环境对胶束的形成与稳定性的影响是人们研究的重点. 本文报道了聚苯乙烯-丙烯酸嵌段共聚物在水中的胶束行为, 着重讨论了溶液pH值和钙离子浓度对聚丙烯酸链段相互作用的影响.     

三嵌段刷状共聚物的合成及溶液组装制备多孔纳米粒子

结合可控自由基聚合和铜催化的叠氮-炔环加成(Cu AAC)反应,合成了coil-brush-coil型三嵌段刷状共聚物.其中coil段为亲水性的聚(N,N′-二甲基丙烯酰胺)(PDMA),brush段为高密度接枝V形侧链的疏水性聚丙烯酸酯.由于其两亲性特征及刷状拓扑结构所赋予的主链刚性,该嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂甲醇和乙醇中可分别自组装得到片状胶束和囊泡.刷状嵌段的V形侧链包含聚苯乙烯(PS)和聚左旋丙交酯(PLLA)2条链,它们在胶束(或囊泡)组装体的核(或壁)区发生微相分离得到有序的柱状相分离形貌.将离散柱状PLLA相水解,即可得到核或壁具有多孔结构的片状胶束或囊泡.     

用SAXS/WAXS研究聚氧乙烯/聚氧丁烯嵌段共聚物在n-己烷中的结晶性球形胶束结构

嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中能够自组装形成胶束,胶束的不同形状与嵌段共聚物的结构、溶剂和浓度有关．无定形嵌段共聚物通常形成球形胶束,在某些情况下也可以形成其它形状的胶束,关于结晶性嵌段共聚物在无定形链段选择性溶剂中的胶束结构和形状的报道非常少．由于结晶和相似相溶两种作用力的竞争,使得这类胶束的形状丰富多变．通常结晶作用较强时,结晶性嵌段共聚物形成片状的胶束,当结晶组分比较少时,可形成棒状胶束,尽管理论上已经指出存在球形胶束,但尚无关于这方面的报道。     

含无规共聚组分的两嵌段聚合物A-b-(B-r-C)的合成以及自组装

通过原子转移自由基(ATRP)方法合成了其中一个嵌段是由2种单体无规共聚的两嵌段聚合物——聚丙烯酸肉桂酸乙酯-b-(聚苯乙烯-r-聚丙烯酸叔丁酯),(记为PCEA-b-(PtBA-r-PS)).讨论了聚合过程中影响分子量分布以及分子量控制的各种因素.通过氢核磁(1H-NMR)确定各嵌段的重复单元数分别为50,111,138.通过透射电镜(TEM)观察,研究了该嵌段聚合物在选择性溶剂1-氯癸烷以及环戊烷中的自组装行为,发现该嵌段聚合物在环己烷中直接分散可以形成有聚集倾向的短棒状或球形胶束,而在1-氯癸烷中直接分散得到的胶束,在膜表面随着1-氯癸烷溶剂的缓慢挥发可以组装得到具有规则微纳结构的相互连接的柱状胶束.     

Polymer micelles with hydrophobic core and ionic amphiphilic corona. 2. Starlike distribution of charged and nonpolar blocks in corona

Mixed polymer micelles with hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) core and ionic amphiphilic poly(4-vinylpyridine)/poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) corona (P4VP/PEVP) spontaneously self-assembled from mixtures of PS-b-PEVP and PS-b-P4VP macromolecules in dimethylformamide/methanol/water selective solvent. The fraction of PEVP units in corona was β = [PEVP]/([PEVP] + [P4VP]) = 0.05-1.0. Micelles were transferred into pure water via dialysis technique and pH was adjusted to 9, where P4VP blocks are insoluble. Structural characteristics of micelles as a function of corona composition β were investigated. Methods of dynamic and static light scattering, electrophoretic mobility measurements, sedimentation velocity, transmission electron microscopy, and UV spectrophotometry were applied. Spherical morphology with core (PS)-shell (P4VP)-corona (PEVP) organization was postulated. Micelles demonstrated a remarkable inflection in structural characteristics near β ～ 0.5-0.7. Above this region, aggregation number (m), core and corona radii of mixed micelles coincided with those of individual PS-b-PEVP micelles. When β decreased below 0.5, dramatic growth of aggregation number was observed, accompanied by growth in micelle size and stretching PEVP chains. At β below 0.2, dispersions of mixed micelles were unstable and easily precipitated upon addition of NaCl. Scaling relationships between micelle characteristics and β were obtained via minimization the micelle free energy, taking into account electrostatic, osmotic, volume, and surface contributions. Theoretical estimations predicted dramatic influence of β on aggregation number, m ～ β(-3). This result is in general agreement with experimental data and confirms the correctness of the core-shell-corona model. The inflection in micelle characteristics entails drastic changes in micelle dispersion stability in the presence of oppositely charged polymeric (sodium polymethacrylate) or amphiphilic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) complexing agents.     

Solubilization of hydrocarbons and resulting aggregate shape transitions in aqueous solutions of Pluronic (PEO–PPO–PEO) block copolymers

Pluronic^® block copolymers are commercially available symmetric triblock copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, as the hydrophilic end blocks and poly(propylene oxide), PPO, as the hydrophobic middle block. In this paper, the solubilization of hydrocarbons by aggregates of Pluronic^® block copolymers in water is examined in the framework of a simple molecular theory of solubilization. The aggregates have an inner core region made up of PPO and the solubilizate and an outer corona region made up of PEO and water. Expressions for the standard state free energy change associated with solubilization of hydrocarbons by aggregates having spherical, cylindrical, and lamellar shapes are presented. These free energy contributions account for the mixing of the core block with the solubilizate, the consequent changes in the state of deformation of the core block, the changes in the state of dilution and deformation of the corona block, the formation of the core-solvent interface, and the backfolding of the triblock copolymer which ensures that the two end blocks are in contact with the solvent. Utilizing these free energy expressions, we predict the core size, the corona thickness, and the aggregation number of the micelle and also the volume fraction of the hydrocarbon solubilized in the core, for seven aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon solubilizates incorporated within numerous Pluronic^® compounds. The calculated results show that a growth in aggregate size occurs both because of the incorporation of the hydrocarbon and also the increase in the intrinsic number of block copolymer molecules per aggregate. More interestingly, solubilization is shown to induce a transition in aggregate shapes from spheres to cylinders and then to lamellae. The shape transition is found to be critically controlled by the free energy of mixing of the solubilizate with the core forming PPO block.     

Temperature-dependent micellar structures in poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymer solutions near the critical micelle temperature

The temperature dependence of the micelle structures formed by poly(styrene-b-isoprene) (SI) diblock copolymers in the selective solvents diethyl phthalate (DEP) and tetradecane (C14), which are selective for the PS and PI blocks, respectively, have been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Two nearly symmetric SI diblock copolymers, one with a perdeuterated PS block and the other with a perdeuterated PI block, were examined in both DEP and C14. The SANS scattering length density of the solvent was matched closely to either the core or the corona block. The resulting core and corona contrast data were fitted with a detailed model developed by Pedersen and co-workers. The fits provide quantitative information on micellar characteristics such as aggregation number, core size, overall size, solvent fraction in the core, and corona thickness. As temperature increases, the solvent selectivity decreases, leading to substantial solvent swelling of the core and a decrease in the aggregation number and core size. Both core and corona chains are able to relax their conformations near the critical micelle temperature due to a decrease in the interfacial tension, even though the corona chains are always under good solvent conditions.     

Effect of acid on the aggregation of poly(ethylene xide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers

The acid effect on the aggregation of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers EO(20)PO(70)EO(20) has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyzer (PSA), Fourier transformed infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The critical micellization temperature for Pluronic P123 in different HCl aqueous solutions increases with the increase of acid concentration. Additionally, the hydrolysis degradation of PEO blocks is observed in strong acid concentrations at higher temperatures. When the acid concentration is low, TEM and PSA show the increase of the micelle mean diameter and the decrease of the micelle polydispersity at room temperature, which demonstrate the extension of EO corona and tendency of uniform micelle size because of the charge repulsion. When under strong acid conditions, the aggregation of micelles through the protonated water bridges was observed.     

Hybrid polyion complex micelles formed from double hydrophilic block copolymers and multivalent metal ions: size control and nanostructure

Hybrid polyion complex (HPIC) micelles are nanoaggregates obtained by complexation of multivalent metal ions by double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBC). Solutions of DHBC such as the poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(acrylamide) (PAA-b-PAM) or poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethylacrylate) (PAA-b-PHEA), constituted of an ionizable complexing block and a neutral stabilizing block, were mixed with solutions of metal ions, which are either monoatomic ions or metal polycations, such as Al(3+), La(3+), or Al(13)(7+). The physicochemical properties of the HPIC micelles were investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) as a function of the polymer block lengths and the nature of the cation. Mixtures of metal cations and asymmetric block copolymers with a complexing block smaller than the stabilizing block lead to the formation of stable colloidal HPIC micelles. The hydrodynamic radius of the HPIC micelles varies with the polymer molecular weight as M(0.6). In addition, the variation of R(h) of the HPIC micelle is stronger when the complexing block length is increased than when the neutral block length is increased. R(h) is highly sensitive to the polymer asymmetry degree (block weight ratio), and this is even more true when the polymer asymmetry degree goes down to values close to 3. SANS experiments reveal that HPIC micelles exhibit a well-defined core-corona nanostructure; the core is formed by the insoluble dense poly(acrylate)/metal cation complex, and the diffuse corona is constituted of swollen neutral polymer chains. The scattering curves were modeled by an analytical function of the form factor; the fitting parameters of the Pedersen's model provide information on the core size, the corona thickness, and the aggregation number of the micelles. For a given metal ion, the micelle core radius increases as the PAA block length. The radius of gyration of the micelle is very close to the value of the core radius, while it varies very weakly with the neutral block length. Nevertheless, the radius of gyration of the micelle is highly dependent on the asymmetry degree of the polymer: if the neutral block length increases in a large extent, the micelle radius of gyration decreases due to a decrease of the micelle aggregation number. The variation of the R(g)/R(h) ratio as a function of the polymer block lengths confirms the nanostructure associating a dense spherical core and a diffuse corona. Finally, the high stability of HPIC micelles with increasing concentration is the result of the nature of the coordination complex bonds in the micelle core.     

Probing solubilization sites in block copolymer micelles using fluorescence quenching

The solubilization sites provided by micelles formed by a diblock copolymer with one neutral hydrophobic block, polystyrene, and one charged hydrophilic block, poly(acrylic acid) or poly(methacrylic acid), have been studied by fluorescence quenching of pyrene by polar and nonpolar quenchers. Pyrene solubilized into these micelles is distributed between the inner corona and the micelle core. The fraction of pyrene residing in the inner corona is almost unity for star micelles, where the corona-forming blocks are larger than the core-forming blocks, and around 0.5 for crew-cut micelles where the opposite situation prevails. The kinetics of the quenching process depends on the pyrene location, i.e. is static in the micelle core, and largely dynamic in the inner corona at low quencher concentration. The rate constants for fluorescence quenching by nitromethane are shown to increase with increasing pH.     

Thermosensitive sol–gel transition behaviors of poly(ethylene oxide)/aliphatic polyester/poly(ethylene oxide) aqueous solutions

The thermoreversible gelation of Pluronic [poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–polypropylene oxide (PPO)–PEO] aqueous solutions originates from micelle formation and micelle volume changes due to PEO–water and PPO–water lower critical solution temperature behavior. The micelle volume fraction is known to dominate the sol–gel transition behavior of Pluronic aqueous solutions. Triblock copolymers of PEO and aliphatic polyesters, instead of PPO, were prepared by hexamethylene diisocyanate coupling and dicyclohexyl carbodiimide coupling. Through changes in the molecular weight and hydrophobicity of the polyester middle block, the hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance of each block was systematically controlled. The following aliphatic polyesters were used: poly(hexamethylene adipate) (PHA), poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA), and poly(ethylene succinate) (PESc). With the hydrophobicity and molecular weight of the middle block increasing, the critical micelle concentration at the same critical micelle temperature decreased, and the absolute value of the micellization free energy increased. The micelle size was rather insensitive to temperature but slightly decreased with increasing temperature. PEO–PHA–PEO and PEO–PEA–PEO triblock copolymers needed high polymer concentrations to form gels. This was ascribed to the tight aggregation of PHA and PEA chains in the micelle core due to strong hydrophobic interactions, which induced the contraction of the micelle core. However, because of the relatively hydrophilic core, a PEO–PESc–PEO aqueous solution showed gelation at a low polymer concentration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 772–784, 2004     

Characterization of Surfactant-Diblock Copolymer Interactions and Its Thermodynamic Studies

The interaction of nonionic diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide butylene oxide) (E₆₂B₂₂) with a cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) were studied using surface tension, conductivity, and dynamic laser light scattering techniques. Surface tension measurements were used to determine critical micelle concentration and thereby its free energy of adsorption (ΔG_ads), free energy of micellization (ΔG_m), surface excess concentration (Γ), and minimum area per molecule (A). Conductivity measurements were used to determine critical micelle concentration (CMC) critical aggregation concentration (CAC) at different temperatures, enthalpy of micellization (ΔH_m), free energy of micellization and entropy of micellization (ΔS_m). Changes in physicochemical properties of the micellized block copolymer were studied by using dynamic laser light scattering. The effect of surfactant on the size and properties of block copolymer has also been discussed.     

Formation of block copolymer micelles in solutions of a linear homopolymer in a good solvent

The existence of micelles of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene/propene) in solutions of polystyrene in toluene was investigated. Toluene is a good solvent of both copolymer blocks whereas polystyrene and poly(ethylene/propene) are immiscible polymers. The presence of homopolystyrene at high enough concentration can induce the micellization of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene/propene) in solution of a good solvent such as toluene. The thermodynamics of this new micelle system at a given polystyrene concentration was studied. Light scattering measurements were carried out in order to determine the critical micelle temperature (CMT) of different micellar solutions. Standard Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of micellization were estimated from CMT and concentration data. The numerical values found were less negative than those found for micelle systems consisting in a block copolymer dissolved in a single selective solvent.     

A molecular dynamics study of free energy of micelle formation for sodium dodecyl sulfate in water and its size distribution

Free energy of micelle formation has been evaluated for spherical sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water by a thermodynamic integration method combined with a series of large-scale molecular dynamics calculations following the chemical species model. In particular, free energy change delta mu(n+1)0 with respect to the addition of one surfactant molecule to the spherical micelle of size n was obtained as a function of n. The free energy profile showed a minimum followed by a maximum, which corresponds to a peak in the size distribution. The calculated peak size n = 57 near its critical micelle concentration is in good agreement with the experimental averaged aggregation number n = 55-75 of the SDS micelle. The distribution showed a rather sharp peak, indicating that the size is almost a monodisperse one. The size is likely to be insensitive to the total concentration of the surfactant.