title: Polymeric nanocylinders by combining block copolymer self-assembly and nanoskiving.
abstract: A new facile fabrication approach to generate polymeric nanostructures is described. Block copolymers containing immiscible segments can self-assemble to generate ordered nanostructures, such as cylinders of one block in a matrix of the other in the bulk, which can then be sectioned on the nanoscale using a microtome (nanoskiving). Dispersing these sections in a selective solvent for the matrix block results in nanocylinders. In one example, we utilized a poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-block-poly(styrene) (PDMA-PS) copolymer containing 36% by volume of PS. This composition was selected as it self-assembles into cylinders of PS in a matrix of PDMA. Following a previously described procedure, the cylinders were aligned using a channel die. The aligned samples were subsequently sectioned using a microtome containing a diamond knife and dispersed in water, a selective solvent for the PDMA matrix, affording PS nanocylinders with a PDMA corona. This technique allows tuning of nanocylinders without the requirement of specialty fabrication equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0431, United States.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasiri
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Reineke
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hillmyer
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D011137:Polystyrenes; C429790:poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)
keywords: block copolymer self-assembly; nanocylinders; nanoskiving; polymeric nanoparticles