Toward Uniform Nanofibers with a π‑Conjugated
Core: Optimizing the “Living” Crystallization-Driven
Self-Assembly of Diblock Copolymers with a Poly(3-octylthiophene)
Core-Forming Block
Ulrich Tritschler
Jessica Gwyther
Robert L. Harniman
George R. Whittell
Mitchell A. Winnik
Ian Manners
10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00488.s001
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Toward_Uniform_Nanofibers_with_a_Conjugated_Core_Optimizing_the_Living_Crystallization-Driven_Self-Assembly_of_Diblock_Copolymers_with_a_Poly_3-octylthiophene_Core-Forming_Block/6737228
Crystalline poly(3-alkylthiophene)
(P3AT) nanofibers are promising
materials for a myriad of device applications, but nanofiber length
control and colloidal stability are difficult to achieve. We report
an in-depth study of the solution self-assembly of regioregular poly(3-octylthiophene)-<i>b</i>-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (P3OT-<i>b</i>-PDMS)
diblock copolymers with a crystallizable π-conjugated core-forming
block. Use of the “living” crystallization-driven self-assembly
(CDSA) seeded-growth method in solvents selective for PDMS allowed
access to relatively low length dispersity, colloidally stable P3OT-<i>b</i>-PDMS fiber-like micelles with a crystalline, tape-like
P3OT core, a PDMS corona, and lengths up to ca. 600 nm under optimized
conditions. Significantly, the presence of a small percentage of common
solvent and the use of slightly elevated temperature (35 °C)
were found to enhance the length control. Analogous studies for P3OT-<i>b</i>-PS (PS = polystyrene) suggest that solvent composition
and temperature represent key parameters for the general optimization
of fiber formation by living CDSA for P3AT block copolymers.
2018-07-03 16:29:17
600 nm
PDMS fiber-like micelles
Diblock Copolymers
length dispersity
P 3AT nanofibers
P 3OT b
core-forming block
crystallizable π-
tape-like P 3OT core
diblock copolymers
P 3AT block copolymers
optimized conditions
CDSA
length control
fiber formation
PDMS corona
device applications
solution self-assembly
seeded-growth method
Uniform Nanofibers
PS
nanofiber length control
Analogous studies