| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Supramolecular Chemistry: From Molecules to Nanomaterials |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780470661345 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780470746400 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2012 |
Abstract
Block copolymers consist of two or more polymer chains covalently linked together. The different blocks can range in compatibility, both within the polymers or between the polymers and the environment. Phase separation between the blocks, as well as between the blocks and solvent, can be used to generate materials with different, yet controlled, nanostructures. In the bulk, phase separation is relatively well understood and related to the segregation strength of the two chemically distinct polymer components. In solution, block copolymers can adopt a range of self-assembled structures including spherical micelles, wormlike micelles, and vesicles depending on parameters such as the polymer composition, polymer concentration, and solvent choice. This chapter explains how such phase separation comes about in addition to how it can be related to the adopted structures.