Issue 42, 2020

In situ SAXS studies of a prototypical RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization formulation: monitoring the evolution in copolymer morphology during polymerization-induced self-assembly

Abstract

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to characterize the in situ formation of diblock copolymer spheres, worms and vesicles during reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate at 70 °C using a poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) steric stabilizer. 1H NMR spectroscopy indicates more than 99% HPMA conversion within 80 min, while transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies are consistent with the final morphology being pure vesicles. Analysis of time-resolved SAXS patterns for this prototypical polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) formulation enables the evolution in copolymer morphology, particle diameter, mean aggregation number, solvent volume fraction, surface density of copolymer chains and their mean inter-chain separation distance at the nanoparticle surface to be monitored. Furthermore, the change in vesicle diameter and membrane thickness during the final stages of polymerization supports an ‘inward growth’ mechanism.

Graphical abstract: In situ SAXS studies of a prototypical RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization formulation: monitoring the evolution in copolymer morphology during polymerization-induced self-assembly

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
19 Jun 2020
Accepted
11 Sep 2020
First published
18 Sep 2020
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 11443-11454

In situ SAXS studies of a prototypical RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization formulation: monitoring the evolution in copolymer morphology during polymerization-induced self-assembly

A. Czajka and S. P. Armes, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 11443 DOI: 10.1039/D0SC03411H

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.

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