Topology Affecting Block Copolymer Nanoassemblies: Linear Block Copolymers versus Star Block Copolymers under PISA Conditions

Zhang, Y (Zhang, Yuan)^[ 1 ] ; Cao, MJ (Cao, Mengjiao)^[ 1 ] ; Han, G (Han, Guang)^[ 3 ] ; Guo, TY (Guo, Tianying)^[ 1 ] ; Ying, TY (Ying, Tengyuan)^[ 4 ] ; Zhang, WQ(Zhang, Wangqing)^[ 1,2 ]

MACROMOLECULES, 2018, 51(14): 5440-5449

DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01121

 WOS:000440105200042

Abstract

Linear and star block copolymer (BCP) nanoassemblies of [poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-polystyrene](n) ([P4VP-b-PS](n)) with different arm numbers have been synthesized by RAFT dispersion polymerization under formulation of polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). All RAFT dispersion polymerizations employing mono- and multifunctional macromolecular chain transfer agents proceed with similar polymerization kinetics. The size and/or morphology of [P4VP-b-PS](n) nanoassemblies are firmly correlative to arm number n, and star [P4VP-b-PS](n) BCPs have more complex morphology than the linear counterpart. Several interesting morphologies of star BCPs including small-sized vesicles and porous nanospheres have been synthesized, and they are compared with those of the linear counterpart. Our research indicates that topology is a significant parameter to dedicate the size and morphology of star BCP nanoassemblies under PISA conditions.