Block copolymers are versatile materials with a wide variety of chemical applications. Typical synthesis of these materials employs a controlled polymerization of one monomer with a subsequent chain extension using another monomer sometimes under extreme reaction conditions. Here, a facile polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA) method for block copolymer synthesis is reported using a poly(ethylene glycol) based chain transfer agent and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate monomer in aqueous solution using blue light. Reaction times can easily be varied to produce block copolymer micelles of different sizes and morphologies. Five separate PEG-PHPMA samples were isolated after 24, 18, 12, 6, and 3 hours of PISA and then analyzed with NMR to elucidate the structural differences in the samples based on the time length of photo-PISA. The prepared PEG-PHPMA block copolymers have many potential applications including being used as templates for the synthesis nanoporous materials.

Photo controlled polymerization of amphiphilic block copolymer in aqueous solution

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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