Hunter, S.J. orcid.org/0000-0002-9280-1969 and Armes, S.P. orcid.org/0000-0002-8289-6351 (2023) Shape-shifting thermoresponsive block copolymer nano-objects. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 634. pp. 906-920. ISSN 0021-9797
Abstract
In this Feature Article, we review our recent progress in the design of shape-shifting thermoresponsive diblock copolymer nano-objects, which are prepared using various hydroxyl-functional (meth)acrylic monomers (e.g. 2‑hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 4‑hydroxybutyl acrylate or hydroxybutyl methacrylate) to generate the thermoresponsive block. Unlike traditional thermoresponsive polymers such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), there is no transition between soluble and insoluble polymer chains in aqueous solution. Instead, thermally driven transitions between a series of copolymer morphologies (e.g. spheres, worms, vesicles or lamellae) occur on adjusting the aqueous solution temperature owing to a subtle change in the partial degree of hydration of the permanently insoluble thermoresponsive block. Such remarkable self-assembly behavior is unprecedented in colloid science: no other amphiphilic diblock copolymer or surfactant system undergoes such behavior at a fixed chemical composition and concentration. Such shape-shifting nano-objects are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, rheology and variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. Potential applications for this fascinating new class of amphiphiles are briefly considered.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | Block copolymer self-assembly; Nano-objects; Nanoparticles; Polymerisation-induced self-assembly; RAFT polymerisation; Thermoresponsive; Polymerization; Polymers; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Temperature; Water |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Chemistry (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL EP/R003009/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 06 Feb 2023 12:32 |
Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2023 12:32 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.080 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier BV |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.080 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:196076 |
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