With a rising interest in developing and implementing more environmental-friendly materials, the study of self-assembly behavior of a next generation natural-source based polymers is crucial. Herein, a sugar-derived poly(D-glucose carbonate) (PGC) amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) with targeted block compositions, chain lengths and side chain chemistries are synthesized and assembled for an in-depth characterization. First, we explore kinetically controlled assembly pathways varying the solvent compositions that lead to the assembly of ribbon-like fibers with features that do not follow the traditional BCP micellar-like packing. The assembled fiber structure is characterized using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and small-angle neutron scattering where we find the assembled fibers have a flat interface composed of fused disc subunits. The uniqueness of the fiber structure is a result of the PGC chemistry where the polymer backbone is entirely composed of hydrophobic glucose monomers and the amphiphilicity arises from the pendent side chain ionic groups. The assembly behavior deviates from the traditional coil-based BCPs due to the inherent stiffness of the glucose backbone resulting in a unique chain packing in response to a solvent quality change. Second, to understand how the chain behavior affects the final assembly morphology, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic block equivalent homopolymers are studied using various scattering techniques to obtain polymer chain solution properties for a better understanding of the PGC block copolymer chains in similar solvent conditions. These findings allow us to form a robust fiber nanostructure that can be achieved by non-traditional polymers and their potential to be used in many engineering applications.

Characterization of fiber formation of sugar-based poly(D-glucose carbonate) amphiphilic block copolymers 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.