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Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

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Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

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Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Using Polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
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Priming self-assembly pathways by stacking block copolymers.

Sebastian T Russell1, Suwon Bae1, Ashwanth Subramanian2

  • 1Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA.

Nature Communications
|November 14, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a pathway priming strategy to create novel block copolymer nanostructures beyond equilibrium limits. This method exploits self-assembly

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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Block copolymers self-assemble into nanoscale structures.
  • Equilibrium assembly yields limited structural diversity.
  • Non-equilibrium strategies offer potential for expanded morphologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel non-equilibrium strategy for block copolymer self-assembly.
  • To explore the vast processing and material parameter space for novel structure formation.
  • To create exotic, non-native nanostructures surpassing equilibrium limitations.

Main Methods:

  • Pathway priming strategy combining controlled initial configurations and ordering history.
  • Sequential coating of distinct materials to create prescribed non-equilibrium initial states.
  • Thermal annealing to guide evolution through the assembly landscape.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a library of exotic non-native morphologies.
  • Achieved vertically-oriented perforated lamellae, aqueduct structures, parapets, and crisscrossing lamellae networks.
  • Explored the hyperspace of processing, material, and layering dimensions.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced structural control in block copolymer self-assembly is achievable through non-equilibrium pathway priming.
  • Novel morphologies with potentially superior functional properties can be accessed.
  • This strategy expands the accessible structural diversity beyond equilibrium constraints.