Micellar shape change and internal segregation induced by chemical modification of a tryptych block copolymer surfactant

Zhilian Zhou; Zhibo Li; Yu Ren; Marc A Hillmyer; Timothy P Lodge

doi:10.1021/ja036551h

Micellar shape change and internal segregation induced by chemical modification of a tryptych block copolymer surfactant

J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Aug 27;125(34):10182-3. doi: 10.1021/ja036551h.

Authors

Zhilian Zhou¹, Zhibo Li, Yu Ren, Marc A Hillmyer, Timothy P Lodge

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, USA.

PMID: 12926935
DOI: 10.1021/ja036551h

Abstract

We report the detailed characterization of micelles formed by two nonionic, amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymers. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene)-b-1,2-poly(butadiene) (PEO-b-PS-b-PB) triblock copolymer "OSB" forms core-corona spherical micelles in aqueous solution, and the two hydrophobic blocks S and B are mixed homogeneously within the micelle core. PEO-b-PS-b-PB:C6F13I triblock copolymer "OSF" was prepared by selective fluorination of the B block in OSB with n-perfluorohexyl iodide. Fluorination of the B block induces internal segregation into an inner F core and an intermediate S shell. Furthermore, the strong incompatibility that results from fluorination drives a shape change into an oblate ellipsoid. These micellar morphologies are confirmed by combined light, neutron, and X-ray scattering measurements, as well as TEM imaging.