1997 article

Macromolecular self-assembly in dilute sequence-controlled block copolymer/homopolymer blends

SUPRAMOLECULAR SCIENCE, Vol. 4, pp. 121–126.

By: J. Laurer n, A. Ashraf*, S. Smith*, J. Samseth* & R. Spontak n 

co-author countries: Norway 🇳🇴 United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: block copolymers; micelles; bilayered membranes
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Conventional block copolymers consist of two long contiguous monomer sequences (‘blocks’) that can, in the same fashion as low-molar-mass surfactants, self-assemble into various microstructural elements (e.g., micelles at low copolymer concentrations) to minimize repulsive contacts in the presence of a parent homopolymer. In this work, we explore the existence of segment-specific interactions, as well as the possibility of tailoring these blend morphologies (and producing altogether new ones), with novel sequence-controlled block copolymers. These copolymers are comprised of at least one block that is a random segment composed of both constituent monomer species. Transmission electron microscopy is employed here to examine the bilayered membranes and channel structures that form in two different series of such copolymers in dilute copolymer/homopolymer blends.