title: Blending block copolymer micelles in solution; Obstacles of blending.
abstract: Amphiphilic block copolymers can assemble into a variety of structures on the nanoscale in selective solvent. The micelle blending protocol offers a simple unique route to reproducibly produce polymer nanostructures. Here we expand this blending protocol to a range of polymer micelle systems and self-assembly routes. We found by exploring a range of variables that the systems must be able to reach global equilibrium at some point for the blending protocol to be successful. Our results demonstrate the kinetics requirements, specifically core block glass transition temperature, Tg, and length of the block limiting the exchange rates, for the blending protocol which can then be applied to a wide range of polymer systems to access this simple protocol for polymer self-assembly.
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Department of Chemistry, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gianneschi
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, IMMM UMR CNRS 6283 Département PCI, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chassenieux
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, IMMM UMR CNRS 6283 Département PCI, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Colombani
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Department of Chemistry, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: O'Reilly