la9b02744_si_001.pdf (1.28 MB)
Core@Corona Functional Nanoparticle-Driven Rod–Coil Diblock Copolymer Self-Assembly
journal contribution
posted on 2019-12-10, 13:38 authored by Coste Mawele Loudy, Joachim Allouche, Antoine Bousquet, Cécile Courrèges, Hervé Martinez, Laurent BillonHerein, a novel strategy to overcome the influence of
π–π
stacking on the rod–coil copolymer organization is reported.
A diblock copolymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(ethylene
glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (P3HT-b-PEGMA)
was synthesized by the Huisgen cycloaddition, so-called “click
chemistry”, combining the PEGMA and P3HT blocks synthesized
by atom transfer radical polymerization and Kumada catalyst transfer
polymerization, respectively. Using a dip-coating process, we controlled
the original film organization of the diblock copolymer by the crystallization
of the P3HT block via π–π stacking. The morphology
of the P3HT-b-PEGMA films was influenced by the incorporation
of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) coated by poly(ethylene glycol) ligands.
Indeed, the crystalline structuration of the P3HT sequence was counterbalanced
by the addition in the film of gold nanoparticles finely localized
within the copolymer PEGMA matrix. Transmission electron microscopy
and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis validated
the GNP homogeneous localization into the compatible PEGMA phase.
Differential scanning calorimetry showed the rod block crystallization
disruption. A morphological transition of the self-assembly is observed
by atomic force microscopy from P3HT fibrils into out-of-plane cylinders
driven by the nanophase segregation.