Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
In situ generation and evolution of polymer toroids by liquid crystallization-assisted seeded dispersion
Mingxin Zheng1, Qiquan Ye1, Xi Chen2
1Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China. yuanjy@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Abstract:
An effective method is presented for preparing high solid content azobenzene-containing triblock copolymer toroidal assemblies by liquid crystallization-assisted seeded dispersion polymerization. Vesicles are prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), and used as seeds for further chain extension. By introducing smectic liquid crystalline (LC) ordering into the core-forming block, toroids are formed in situ during the polymerization. The morphological transformation from toroids to barrels is observed under ultraviolet irradiation due to the photo-isomerization of the azobenzene mesogens. This strategy expands the scope of tunable anisotropic morphologies for potential functional nanomaterials based on a LC copolymer by seeded dispersion polymerization.
Related Concept Videos
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

