Regioselective Seeded Polymerization in Block Copolymer Nanoparticles: Post- Assembly Control of Colloidal Features

LUCILA NAVARRO; ANDREAS THUNEMANN; TADAHIRO YOKOSAWA; ERDMANN SPIECKER,[; DANIEL KLINGER

Angewandte Chemie

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Lugar: Weinheim; Año: 2022

1433-7851

Post-assembly modifications are efficient tools to adjustcolloidal features of block copolymer (BCP) particles. However,existing methods often address particle shape, morphology, andchemical functionality individually. For simultaneous control, wetransferred the concept of seeded polymerization to phase separatedBCP particles. Key to our approach is the regioselectivepolymerization of (functional) monomers inside specific BCPdomains. This was demonstrated in striped PS-b-P2VP ellipsoids.Here, polymerization of styrene preferably occurs in PS domains andincreases PS lamellar thickness up to 5-fold. The resultingasymmetric lamellar morphology also changes the particle shape, i.e.,increases the aspect ratio. Using 4-vinylbenzyl azide as co-monomer,chemical azide functionalities can be added selectively to the PSdomains. Overall, our simple and versatile method gives access tovarious multifunctional BCP colloids from a single batch of pre-formedparticles.