Precise hierarchical self-assembly of multicompartment micelles

André H. Gröschel, Felix H. Schacher, Holger Schmalz, Oleg V. Borisov, Ekaterina B. Zhulina, Andreas Walther () and Axel H.E. Müller ()
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André H. Gröschel: Makromolekulare Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth
Felix H. Schacher: Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie and Jena Center for Soft Matter, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena
Holger Schmalz: Makromolekulare Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth
Oleg V. Borisov: Institut Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l'Environnement et les Matériaux UMR 5254 CNRS/UPPA
Ekaterina B. Zhulina: Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Andreas Walther: DWI at the RWTH Aachen University
Axel H.E. Müller: Makromolekulare Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Hierarchical self-assembly offers elegant and energy-efficient bottom-up strategies for the structuring of complex materials. For block copolymers, the last decade witnessed great progress in diversifying the structural complexity of solution-based assemblies into multicompartment micelles. However, a general understanding of what governs multicompartment micelle morphologies and polydispersity, and how to manipulate their hierarchical superstructures using straightforward concepts and readily accessible polymers remains unreached. Here we demonstrate how to create homogeneous multicompartment micelles with unprecedented structural control via the intermediate pre-assembly of subunits. This directed self-assembly leads to a step-wise reduction of the degree of conformational freedom and dynamics and avoids undesirable kinetic obstacles during the structure build-up. It yields a general concept for homogeneous populations of well-defined multicompartment micelles with precisely tunable patchiness, while using simple linear ABC triblock terpolymers. We further demonstrate control over the hierarchical step-growth polymerization of multicompartment micelles into micron-scale segmented supracolloidal polymers as an example of programmable mesoscale colloidal hierarchies via well-defined patchy nanoobjects.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1707

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