ABC triblock copolymers can form many complex structures due to the polarity difference of each block. In this study, triblock copolymer multicompartement nanoparticles of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(tert-butylacrylate)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PDMA-b-PtBA-b-P4VP) and poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(tert-butylacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PDMA-b-PtBA-b-PS) with multicompartement structure were synthesized RAFT polymerization under dispersed condition, e.g., combined emulsion/dispersion polymerization or emulsion polymerization. In these multicompartement nanoparticles, the PtBA block forms the main body of the particle, and the P4VP or PS block forms the dispersed microdomains on the particle surface, which are completely different from the traditional core-shell nanoparticles of block copolymers. The formation of these multicompartement nanoparticles can be attributed to (1) poor compatibility between the PtBA block and the P4VP or PS block (2) the novel synthesis which ensures the P4VP or PS block to be kept dispersed. It is found that the morphology of the multicompartment nanoparticles is firmly dependent on the degree of polymerization (DP) of the third block of P4VP or PS, and the size of the dispersed microdomains becomes larger with the increasing DP of the P4VP block. This study provides a convenient method for the synthesis of MCBNs.

Convenient synthesis of multicompartment block copolymer nanoparticles

ACS Spring 2022

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