Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
Self-assembly behavior of A-B diblock and C-D random copolymer mixtures in the solution state through mediated
Chih-Hao Hsu1, Shiao-Wei Kuo, Jem-Kun Chen
1Institute of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Nanotechnology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
Abstract:
We have synthesized poly(methyl methacrylate- b-4-vinylpyridine) (PMMA- b-P4VP) and poly(styrene- r-vinylphenol) (PS- r-PVPh) copolymers by using anionic and free radical polymerizations, respectively. Well-defined micelles through hydrogen bonding have been prepared by mixing PMMA- b-P4VP diblock copolymer and PS- r-PVPh random copolymer in a single solvent. Block copolymers were mixed with random copolymers, with various [N]/[OH] ratios (4/1, 2/1, 1/1, and 1/4) in which "[N]/[OH]" represents the molar ratio of pyridine groups on P4VP to hydroxyl groups on PVPh. The presence distribution of PVPh/P4VP and PVPh/PMMA hydrogen bonding depends on the feeding ratio of PVPh to P4VP. When the PVPh content is lower than that of P4VP, hydrogen bonding occurs only between PVPh and P4VP; with excess PVPh, additional hydrogen bonding between PVPh and PMMA would occur. Furthermore, the effect of the solvent quality on the self-assembly behavior of PMMA- b-P4VP/PS- r-PVPh blends is investigated by considering tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as common solvents. We can mediate the strength of hydrogen bonding in blend systems by adopting different solvents and inducing different morphology transitions.
Related Concept Videos
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

