Superlattice by charged block copolymer self-assembly

Charged block copolymers are of great interest due to their unique self-assembly and physicochemical properties. Understanding of the phase behavior of charged block copolymers, however, is still at a primitive stage. Here we report the discovery of an intriguing superlattice morphology from composi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2019-05, Vol.10 (1), p.2108-7, Article 2108
Main Authors: Shim, Jimin, Bates, Frank S., Lodge, Timothy P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
147/28
639/301/923/1028
639/638/541/966
Block copolymers
Chemical industry
Copolymers
Ethylene
Ethylene glycol
Humanities and Social Sciences
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Molecular structure
Morphology
multidisciplinary
Perovskites
Physicochemical properties
Polyethylene glycol
Polymers
Polystyrene
Polystyrene resins
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Self-assembly
Sodium
Superlattices
Tethering
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Summary:Charged block copolymers are of great interest due to their unique self-assembly and physicochemical properties. Understanding of the phase behavior of charged block copolymers, however, is still at a primitive stage. Here we report the discovery of an intriguing superlattice morphology from compositionally symmetric charged block copolymers, poly[(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate– co –oligo(ethylene glycol) propyl sodium sulfonate methacrylate)]– b –polystyrene (POEGMA–PS), achieved by systematic variation of the molecular structure in general, and the charge content in particular. POEGMA–PS self-assembles into a superlattice lamellar morphology, a previously unknown class of diblock nanostructures, but strikingly similar to oxygen-deficient perovskite derivatives, when the fraction of charged groups in the POEGMA block is about 5–25%. The charge fraction and the tethering of the ionic groups both play critical roles in driving the superlattice formation. This study highlights the accessibility of superlattice morphologies by introducing charges in a controlled manner. Understanding the phase behavior of charged block copolymers may potentially lead to unexplored self-assembled morphologies. Here, the authors report the preparation of ion-containing diblock copolymers featuring a superlattice state varying between disordered and lamellar morphologies depending on the charge density.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-019-10141-z