Well-Defined Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Nanoobjects via Nitroxide-Mediated Emulsion Polymerization

Water-soluble macroalkoxyamines are shown to be particularly well-suited initiators for nitroxide-mediated emulsion polymerization. They lead to the synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers that self-assemble in situ into well-defined nanoobject morphologies, in agreement with the principles of polymerization-induced micellization. Depending on the molar mass of the hydrophobic block, the formed nanoparticles are hairy spherical micelles, nanofibers, or vesicles. The nanofibers are the most intriguing and spectacular structure and strongly affect the physicochemical properties of the aqueous dispersions.