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Rational design of ABC triblock terpolymer solution nanostructures with controlled patch morphology

Author

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  • Tina I. Löbling

    (Macromolecular Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth
    Aalto University School of Science)

  • Oleg Borisov

    (Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l’Environnement et les Matériaux UMR 5254 CNRS/UPPA
    Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences
    St Petersburg State Polytechnic University)

  • Johannes S. Haataja

    (Aalto University School of Science)

  • Olli Ikkala

    (Aalto University School of Science)

  • André H. Gröschel

    (Aalto University School of Science
    Present address: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, D-45127 Essen, Germany)

  • Axel H. E. Müller

    (Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz)

Abstract

Block copolymers self-assemble into a variety of nanostructures that are relevant for science and technology. While the assembly of diblock copolymers is largely understood, predicting the solution assembly of triblock terpolymers remains challenging due to complex interplay of block/block and block/solvent interactions. Here we provide guidelines for the self-assembly of linear ABC triblock terpolymers into a large variety of multicompartment nanostructures with C corona and A/B cores. The ratio of block lengths NC/NA thereby controls micelle geometry to spheres, cylinders, bilayer sheets and vesicles. The insoluble blocks then microphase separate to core A and surface patch B, where NB controls the patch morphology to spherical, cylindrical, bicontinuous and lamellar. The independent control over both parameters allows constructing combinatorial libraries of unprecedented solution nanostructures, including spheres-on-cylinders/sheets/vesicles, cylinders-on-sheets/vesicles, and sheets/vesicles with bicontinuous or lamellar membrane morphology (patchy polymersomes). The derived parameters provide a logical toolbox towards complex self-assemblies for soft matter nanotechnologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Tina I. Löbling & Oleg Borisov & Johannes S. Haataja & Olli Ikkala & André H. Gröschel & Axel H. E. Müller, 2016. "Rational design of ABC triblock terpolymer solution nanostructures with controlled patch morphology," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12097
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12097
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