Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles

Chundong Huang; Jianbo Tan; Qin Xu; Jun He; Xueliang Li; Dongdong Liu; Li Zhang

doi:10.1039/C7RA09120F

Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles†

Chundong Huang,^a Jianbo Tan,

*^ab Qin Xu,^a Jun He,^a Xueliang Li,^a Dongdong Liu^a and Li Zhang*^ab

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Polymeric Materials and Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
E-mail: tanjianbo@gdut.edu.cn, lizhang@gdut.edu.cn

^b Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, Guangzhou 510006, China

Abstract

We report a reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) and 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) in methanol/water at 70 °C. The polymerization was mediated by a binary mixture of S-1-dodecyl-S′-(α,α′-dimethyl-α′′-acetic acid) trithiocarbonate (DDMAT) and monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-based macromolecular RAFT agent (mPEG₄₅-DDMAT). By varying the molar ratio of [St]₀/[4VP]₀, polymer nano-objects of different morphologies (porous vesicles, large compound vesicles (LCVs), and lamellae) were formed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations demonstrated that LCVs were formed by further aggregation and reorganization of vesicles during the process. Effects of [mPEG₄₅-DDMAT]/[DDMAT] molar ratio, methanol/water ratio, and degree of polymerization (DP) of the core-forming block on the assemblies were also studied in detail. Ag@mPEG₄₅-P(St₁₀₈-co-4VP₂₄)/P(St₁₀₈-co-4VP₂₄) LCVs were prepared by in situ reduction of AgNO₃, as confirmed by TEM and UV-vis measurements. The obtained Ag@mPEG₄₅-P(St₁₀₈-co-4VP₂₄)/P(St₁₀₈-co-4VP₂₄) LCVs exhibited catalytic activity for the catalysis of methylene blue (MB) using NaBH₄.

Supplementary files

Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA09120F
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 17 Aug 2017
Accepted: 20 Sep 2017
First published: 28 Sep 2017
This article is Open Access

Download Citation

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 46069-46081

Permissions

Request permissions

Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles

C. Huang, J. Tan, Q. Xu, J. He, X. Li, D. Liu and L. Zhang, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 46069 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA09120F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

RSC Advances

Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles†

Abstract

Supplementary files

Article information

Download Citation

Permissions

Adding a solvophilic comonomer to the polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymer and homopolymer: a cooperative strategy for preparing large compound vesicles

Social activity

Search articles by author

Spotlight

Advertisements