title: Two-dimensional assemblies from crystallizable homopolymers with charged termini.
abstract: The creation of shaped, uniform and colloidally stable two-dimensional (2D) assemblies by bottom-up methods represents a challenge of widespread current interest for a variety of applications. Herein, we describe the utilization of surface charge to stabilize self-assembled planar structures that are formed from crystallizable polymer precursors by a seeded growth approach. Addition of crystallizable homopolymers with charged end-groups to seeds generated by the sonication of block copolymer micelles with crystalline cores yields uniform platelet micelles with controlled dimensions. Significantly, the seeded growth approach is characterized by a morphological memory effect whereby the origin of the seed, which can involve a quasi-hexagonal or rectangular 2D platelet precursor, dictates the observed 2D platelet shape. This new strategy is illustrated using two different polymer systems, and opens the door to the construction of 2D hierarchical structures with broad utility.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: UES, Inc. and Materials &Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Ming-Siao
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Boott
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Harniman
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazemi
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.|Department of Polymer Materials, School of Material Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2673-2141
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Winnik
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manners