title: In Situ Visualization of Block Copolymer Self-Assembly in Organic Media by Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy.
abstract: Analytical methods that enable visualization of nanomaterials derived from solution self-assembly processes in organic solvents are highly desirable. Herein, we demonstrate the use of stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED) and single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) to map living crystallization-driven block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly in organic media at the sub-diffraction scale. Four different dyes were successfully used for single-colour super-resolution imaging of the BCP nanostructures allowing micelle length distributions to be determined in situ. Dual-colour SMLM imaging was used to measure and compare the rate of addition of red fluorescent BCP to the termini of green fluorescent seed micelles to generate block comicelles. Although well-established for aqueous systems, the results highlight the potential of super-resolution microscopy techniques for the interrogation of self-assembly processes in organic media.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS (UK).
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Boott
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RA (UK).
authors.forename: Romain F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RA (UK).
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahou
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS (UK).
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Finnegan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS (UK).
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Leitao
authors.affiliation: Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX (UK). stephen.webb@stfc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen E D
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3RA (UK). cfk23@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Clemens F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS (UK). ian.manners@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manners
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents
keywords: block copolymer; living crystallization-driven self-assembly; micelles; self-assembly; superresolution fluorescence microscopy