The micellar shuttle: thermoreversible, intact transfer of block copolymer micelles between an ionic liquid and water.
Poly(1,2-butadiene-block-ethylene oxide) (PB-PEO) block copolymer micelles are found to partition reversibly between an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) and water, thereby functioning as micellar shuttles controlled simply by temperature. The micelle size and structure are preserved during this reversible phase transfer. This phenomenon offers a simple means to transport chemicals back and forth between two immiscible phases.
He
Yiyong
Y
Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Lodge
Timothy P
TP