Cornucopian cylindrical aggregate morphologies from self-assembly of amphiphilic triblock copolymer in selective media

J Phys Chem B. 2005 Nov 24;109(46):21549-55. doi: 10.1021/jp052420m.

Abstract

We have investigated, both experimentally and theoretically, the aggregation of ABA amphiphilic triblock copolymers in dilute solution. We observed a number of complex architectures having toroidal and network structures, including some novel ones. The computational analyses of these systems offer some insight into the origins of the self-assembly of these amphiphiles. The results we obtained using real-space self-consistent field theory reveal that the formation of network and toroidal structures from the block copolymers occurs as the result of the breaking of "inhomogeneous vesicles"; the observed polymorphism results from the existence of multiple metastable states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Particle Size
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Polymers