title: Complex and hierarchical micelle architectures from diblock copolymers using living, crystallization-driven polymerizations.
abstract: Block copolymers consist of two or more chemically distinct polymer segments, or blocks, connected by a covalent link. In a selective solvent for one of the blocks, core-corona micelle structures are formed. We demonstrate that living polymerizations driven by the epitaxial crystallization of a core-forming metalloblock represent a synthetic tool that can be used to generate complex and hierarchical micelle architectures from diblock copolymers. The use of platelet micelles as initiators enables the formation of scarf-like architectures in which cylindrical micelle tassels of controlled length are grown from specific crystal faces. A similar process enables the fabrication of brushes of cylindrical micelles on a crystalline homopolymer substrate. Living polymerizations driven by heteroepitaxial growth can also be accomplished and are illustrated by the formation of tri- and pentablock and scarf architectures with cylinder-cylinder and platelet-cylinder connections, respectively, that involve different core-forming metalloblocks.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gädt
authors.forename: Nga Sze
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ieong
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cambridge
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Winnik
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manners
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D008823:Micelles; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers