Macromolecule-to-amphiphile conversion process of a polyoxometalate-polymer hybrid and assembled hybrid vesicles

We report our findings on the macromolecule-to-amphiphile conversion process of a polyoxometalate-polymer hybrid and the assembled hybrid vesicles formed by aggregation of the hybrid amphiphile. The polyoxometalate-polymer hybrid is composed of a polyoxometalate (POM) cluster, which is covered by five tetrabutylammonium (Bu(4)N(+)) countercations, and a polystyrene (PS) chain. Through a cation-exchange process the Bu(4)N(+) countercations can be replaced by protons to form a hybrid amphiphile composed of a hydrophilic, protonated POM cluster and a hydrophobic PS chain. By implementing a directed one-dimensional diffusion and analyzing the diffusion data, we confirmed that the diffusion of solvated protons rather than macromolecules or aggregates is the key factor controlling the conversion process. Once the giant hybrid amphiphiles were formed, they immediately assembled into kinetically favored vesicular aggregates. During subsequent annealing these vesicular aggregates were transformed into thermodynamically stable vesicular aggregates with a perfect vesicle structure. The success in the preparation of the POM-containing hybrid vesicles provides us with an opportunity of preparing POM-functionalized vesicles.