Control on self-assembly structures of rod-coil-rod (PANI)-(PEG)-(PANI) triblock copolymer

Abstract

The self-assembly behaviors of the rod-coil-rod (PANI)₉₈-(PEG)₁₃₆-(PANI)₉₈ triblock copolymer are investigated in different solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl formamide (DMF), ethanol and water. The effects of solvents, concentration and ultrasonic irradiation on self-assembly are discussed. The results indicate that the triblock copolymer forms particles, rods, fiber, networks and fiber bands in the above solvents, respectively. Especially, the triblock copolymer can form a multi-layer, tri-dimensional fibrous network and a petaline structure from the mono-layer fibrous network with the increase of its concentration in ethanol. Also, the ultrasonic irradiation has a great effect on the self-assembly of the triblock copolymer.

Keywords

block copolymer, self-assembly, selective solvent