Amphiphilic polymers have been extensively studied regarding their ability to self-assemble in both solution and the solid state for multiple applications, including nanolithography, electrochemical systems and as nanoporous membranes for drug delivery or water filtration. A novel approach to the nanophase separation of block copolymers has been investigated. An alkyl halide initiator was synthesized with a fluorocarbon chain (F13), and utilised as a first block in the synthesis of low molecular weight (N) polymers. Poly(tert-butyl acrylate) of varied molecular weights were synthesized by photoinduced copper mediated living radical polymerisation and subsequently deprotected to give amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid) polymers with very low dispersity (D = 1.05), characterized by both NMR and MALDI-ToF-MS. These block copolymers (BCPs) were annealed thermally and by different solvent conditions. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis suggests both lamellar and hexagonal cylinder packing arrangements, with ultra-small domain spacings of 3.17 nm reported at full-pitch. This work demonstrates the simple and highly controlled synthesis of polymers capable of nanophase separation.

Nanophase separation of high χ, low N block copolymers by photoinduced, copper-mediated ATRP, achieving sub-2 nm domains at half-pitch

2019 Fall National Meeting

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