1 research outputs found
Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Well-Defined Cylindrical Block Copolymer Micelles Using Synchrotron Small-Angle X‑ray Scattering
The structure and phase behavior
of colloidal solutions of monodisperse
rod-shaped micelles, of different lengths (ca. 300–2100 nm)
and formed from polyÂ(ferrocenylsilane)-<i>block</i>-polyisoprene
(PFS<i>-<i>b</i>-</i>PI) diblock copolymers, have
been investigated using synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering.
The dimensions of the crystalline PFS core, solvated PI corona, and
the overall radial polydispersity were measured, and relationships
between the characteristics of the constituent copolymers and the
internal structure of the self-assembled micelles have been established.
In addition, the effects of micelle length, length distribution, concentration,
composition, and block length on the liquid crystalline phase behavior
of the micelles have been determined. It was found that micelle dispersions
exist in three distinct phases: isotropic, nematic, and hexagonally
packed, depending predominantly on their concentration and aspect
ratio. The results have also highlighted the importance of the coronal
composition and structure in determining the high-concentration behavior
of micelle dispersions