title: Influence of Solvent on the Structure of an Amphiphilic Block Copolymer in Solution and in Formation of an Integral Asymmetric Membrane.
abstract: Nanoporous membranes with tailored size pores and multifunctionality derived from self-assembled block copolymers attract growing interest in ultrafiltration. The influence of the structure of block copolymer in the membrane casting solution on the formation of integral asymmetric isoporous block copolymer membranes using the nonsolvent induced phase separation process (NIPS) has been one of the long-standing questions in this research area. In this work we studied the principal role of the solvent on the micellization and self-assembly of asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) diblock copolymers by using a combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Our results indicate a significant effect of the solvent selectivity on the optimal casting concentration and solution structure. In addition, morphological characterization of the resulting membranes demonstrates considerable influence of the solvent system on the ordering and uniformity of the pores and pore characteristics in the separation layer as well as porous substructure of the final membranes.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Polymer Research , Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radjabian
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Polymer Research , Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abetz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Polymer Research , Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.|Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4840-6611
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abetz
keywords: block copolymer; isoporous membrane; self-assembly; solution structure; solvent selectivity