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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: June 8, 2016
Light-Induced Reversible Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers into Microscopic Vesicles with
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
Abstract:
In contrast to the conventional hierarchical self-assembly process, effective methods to enable reversible hierarchical self-assembly of block copolymers are comparatively few and limited in scope. Herein, we report, for the first time, a simple yet robust strategy for light-induced reversible hierarchical self-assembly of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-poly[6-[4-(4-butyloxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate] (denoted P4VP-b-PAzoMA). The hierarchical structures are constructed via a two-step self-assembly process (first-level reverse micelles, second-level compound micelles, and rearrangement into micrometer-sized vesicles) driven by use of solvent. Intriguingly, because of reversible photoinduced trans-to-cis isomerization of azobenzene moieties in PAzoMA, the vesicles could disassemble into subunits upon UV light and then recover the nearly identical vesicular morphology upon visible light. Such a reversible hierarchical self-assembly process is accompanied by reversible fluorescence, encapsulation, and controlled release of dyes and can be used as a template for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Clearly, the ability to render the light-enabled reversible hierarchical self-assembly provides a unique platform for smart delivery vehicles and templates for nanomaterials.
