Issue 6, 2013

Self-assembly structures of amphiphilic multiblock copolymer in dilute solution

Abstract

We study the influence of solvent conditions and the chain backbone stiffness of an amphiphilic multiblock copolymer on its self-assembly structures in dilute solution with Brownian dynamics simulations. Various interesting structures, such as single-flower micelle, multi-flower micelle, and single or multi-bridge structures, are observed. In general, highly hydrophobic components benefit the formation of flower micelle structures, while semi-flexible chains are prone to forming bridge structures. We also study the influence of the ratio between hydrophobic and hydrophilic components on self-assembly structures. From our phase diagram, we find that a high component ratio for the hydrophobic blocks favors the formation of micelles with various structural patterns. A single to multi-flower transition is observed by increasing the chain length of the multiblock copolymer. Well-defined multicompartment wormlike micelles can be obtained from pre-assembled flower micelles in a solvent that is poor for both components.

Graphical abstract: Self-assembly structures of amphiphilic multiblock copolymer in dilute solution

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Sep 2012
Accepted
28 Nov 2012
First published
20 Dec 2012

Soft Matter, 2013,9, 1947-1954

Self-assembly structures of amphiphilic multiblock copolymer in dilute solution

J. Zhang, Z. Lu and Z. Sun, Soft Matter, 2013, 9, 1947 DOI: 10.1039/C2SM27092G

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