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Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
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Hierarchical Self-Assembly in Liquid-Crystalline Block Copolymers Enabled by Chirality Transfer
Shuai Huang1, Yuxuan Chen1, Shudeng Ma1
1Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Engineering and Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 1, 2018
Summary
Researchers created helical nanostructures in synthetic polymers using chiral additives and liquid-crystalline block copolymers. This method allows for the photo-responsive manipulation of these complex helical structures.
Area of Science:
- Polymer science
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Helical topological structures are common in nature but rare in synthetic polymers.
- Synthesized polymers typically lack the chirality needed for helical structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for fabricating helical nanostructures in synthetic polymers.
- To achieve controllable self-assembly and photo-responsive manipulation of these structures.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing amphiphilic liquid-crystalline block copolymers (LCBCs) with hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic azobenzene-containing poly(methylacrylate).
- Doping LCBCs with chiral additives (enantiopure tartaric acid) to induce chirality transfer via hydrogen bonding.
- Employing controlled microphase separation and optimized annealing conditions.
- Leveraging photoresponsive azobenzene mesogens for morphological control.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of helical nanostructures in polymer films.
- Demonstration of chirality transfer from dopants to polymer aggregation.
- Achieved hierarchical self-assembly directed by induced aggregation chirality.
- Exhibited photo-regulation of the helical morphologies.
Conclusions:
- A novel method for creating synthetic helical nanostructures using chiral additives and LCBCs.
- The developed system allows for non-contact manipulation of complex nanostructures.
- This approach opens possibilities for advanced materials with tunable helical properties.
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