title: Micellar shape change and internal segregation induced by chemical modification of a tryptych block copolymer surfactant.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, USA.
authors.forename: Zhilian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhibo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hillmyer
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lodge