title: Optical nanoimaging for block copolymer self-assembly.
abstract: One approach toward optical nanoimaging involves sequential molecular localization of photoswitchable fluorophores to achieve high resolution beyond optical limit of diffraction. Block copolymer micelles assembled from polystryrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers (PSt-b-PEO) are visualized in optical nanoimaging by staining the polystyrene blocks with spiropyrans (SPs). SPs localized in hydrophobic phase of block copolymer micelles exhibit reversible fluorescence on-off switching at alternating irradiation of UV and visible light. Phase-selective distribution of SPs in block copolymer micelles enables optical nanoimaging of microphase structures of block copolymer self-assembly at 50-nm resolution. To date, this is the sturdiest realization of optical nanoimaging with subdiffraction resolution for solution self-assembly of block copolymers.
authors: Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and ‡College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Yan
authors: Ling-Xi
authors: LX
authors: Zhao
authors: Chong
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Guo-Feng
authors: GF
authors: Zhang
authors: Ze-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Chen
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Chen
authors: Zhen-Li
authors: ZL
authors: Huang
authors: Jintao
authors: J
authors: Zhu
authors: Ming-Qiang
authors: MQ
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D008823:Micelles; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers