Design and Self-Assembly of Second-Generation Dendrimer-like Block Copolymers

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Frank Hartmann - (Author)
  • Ron Dockhorn - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Sebastian Pusse - (Author)
  • Bart-Jan Niebuur - (Author)
  • Marcus Koch - (Author)
  • Tobias Kraus - (Author)
  • Alexander Schießer - (Author)
  • Bizan N. Balzer - (Author)
  • Markus Gallei - (Author)

Abstract

The tailored synthesis of copolymer architectures provides insights into fundamental structure-property relationships for the formation of complex morphologies through microphase separation. In this way, classical areas within the phase diagram can be specifically influenced and also adapted for important applications. The exploration of copolymer architectures also offers the possibility to discover entirely new morphologies. In this study, we design a symmetric dendrimer-like second generation block copolymer by anionic polymerization. The structural design of the polymers influences the curvature of the interfaces to produce, in particular, bicontinuous morphologies and is investigated based on molecular chain architecture. After extensive molecular analysis of the new dendrimer-like block copolymers, the resulting morphology is analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. We further combine the experimentally obtained morphologies with Monte Carlo simulations to better understand the relationship between tailored polymer architecture and the observed morphology. By changing the volume ratio of the copolymers used and also mixing this complex polymer architecture with a linear block copolymer, we gain insights into the polymer behavior at the phase boundaries. This knowledge has an impact on the optical and mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers and their corresponding blends.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7098–7111
Number of pages14
JournalMacromolecules
Volume57
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85199092200

Keywords