Structural Evolution of a Polystyrene- Block-Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Block Copolymer in Tetrahydrofuran/Water Cosolvents

Langmuir. 2022 May 17;38(19):5987-5995. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00041. Epub 2022 May 4.

Abstract

This study aims to quantitatively investigate the effect of water content on the self-assembly behavior of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) in tetrahydrofuran/water cosolvents by small-angle X-ray scattering. PS-b-PEO chains preferentially form fractal aggregates at a dilute concentration in neat tetrahydrofuran (THF). By adding a small amount of water into THF, PS-b-PEO forms gelled networks. The gelled networks have correlated inhomogeneities, which were generated through mesophase separation. These gelled networks are not present when PS-b-PEO is dissolved in THF/methanol and THF/ethanol cosolvents. The substitution of water with 12 M HCl reduces the viscosity of the gelled networks. Those results indicate that the gelled networks of PS-b-PEO need hydrogen bonds formed from surrounding water molecules to be bridging agents, which connect different PEO block chains together. Upon increasing the water content in THF/water cosolvents, dispersed micelles with a core-shell conformation or aggregated micelles preferentially coexist with fractal aggregates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ethylene Oxide
  • Furans
  • Micelles*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polystyrenes* / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Furans
  • Micelles
  • Polymers
  • Polystyrenes
  • Water
  • Ethylene Oxide