title: Thermodynamically controllable transition from 3D to 2D self-assembly of a hydrogelator induced by the phase behavior of triblock copolymers.
abstract: Triblock copolymer PE6200 (PEO(10.5)-PPO(30)-PEO(10.5)) in aqueous solution can undergo a transition from an isotropic micellar phase to an anisotropic lamellar phase at a specific temperature. Based on this feature, the self-assembly behavior of a benzenetetracarboxylic acid based hydrogelator in aqueous solutions of PE6200 has been investigated. The results of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements indicated that the hydrogelator self-assembled into stable three-dimensional network structures below 50 °C. In the range of 50-60 °C, a transition from three-dimensional to two-dimensional self-assembly was observed, which can be attributed to the fact that PE6200 undergoes a transition from an isotropic micellar phase to an anisotropic lamellar phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and varying temperature laser Raman spectroscopy further confirmed the thermodynamically controllable transition of 3D to 2D self-assembly. Controlling the self-assembly by utilizing the phase behavior of triblock copolymers is a novel strategy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yajiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; C116176:PEO-PPO-PEO; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols