Block copolymers have been widely used to form templates with different morphologies, such as spherical micelles, cylindrical micelles and vesicles. While the self-assembly process of block copolymers in bulk has been thoroughly explored, the same process in solution remains widely used but poorly understood. This is due the fact that the dynamics plays an important role on the final morphology adopted by the polymer, leading to kinetically trapped systems. The best strategy to reach a desired structure via self-assembly of block copolymers in solution has proven to be an educated trial and error approach. While varying the blocks ratio or blocks nature can promote a change in morphology, this approach is time consuming as new polymers need to be synthesized and sometimes not a possibility when the polymer has a desired functionality. In this paper we will report phase diagrams for a polystyerene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer by changing the particle preparation method instead of changing the polymer type. We will study the effect of changing concentration, temperature and the scale of the process. A detailed analysis of the structures will be performed by advanced electron microscopy techniques such as (cryo)-electron microscopy and (cryo)-electron tomography. We aim to discuss the importance of producing phase diagrams of block copolymers in solution and aim to find relationships between the kinetically trapped structures and the thermodynamics of block copolymer self-assembly.

Kinetic phase diagrams of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) in solution

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.