On modulating the self-assembly behaviors of poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine)/octyl gallate blends in solution state...

We have investigated the complexation-induced phase behavior of the mixtures of poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) and octyl gallate (OG) due to hydrogen bonding in different solvents. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic result indicates that the hydrogen-bonding was formed between the P4VP blocks and OG in both THF and DMF, implying the P4VP blocks can bind to OG. For PS-b-P4VP/OG mixture in chloroform, the morphological transitions were induced from the unimer configuration to swollen aggregate and complex-micelles by adding OG. Interestingly, the complex-micelles can lead the formation of the honeycomb structure from chloroform solution. The PS-b-P4VP/OG mixture in THF, behaving an amphiphilic diblock copolymer in solution state, exhibited a series of morphological transitions from sphere, pearl-necklace-liked rod, worm-liked rod, vesicle, to core-shell-corona aggregates by increasing the OG content. In contrast, the PS-b-P4VP/OG mixture in DMF maintained the unimer configuration upon adding OG. Therefore, the complexation-induced morphology of the mixtures of PS-b-P4VP and OG can be mediated by adopting different common solvents to affect the self-assembly behavior.