Cylindrical Block Copolymer Micelles and Co-Micelles of Controlled Length and Architecture
Xiaosong Wang,1*
Gerald Guerin,1
Hai Wang,1
Yishan Wang,1
Ian Manners,1,2
Mitchell A. Winnik1
Block copolymers consist of two or more chemically different
polymers connected by covalent linkages. In solution, repulsion
between the blocks leads to a variety of morphologies, which
are thermodynamically driven. Polyferrocenyldimethylsilane block
copolymers show an unusual propensity to forming cylindrical
micelles in solution. We found that the micelle structure grows
epitaxially through the addition of more polymer, producing
micelles with a narrow size dispersity, in a process analogous
to the growth of living polymer. By adding a different block
copolymer, we could form co-micelles. We were also able to selectively
functionalize different parts of the micelle. Potential applications
for these materials include their use in lithographic etch resists,
in redox-active templates, and as catalytically active metal
nanoparticle precursors.
2 School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
* Present address: Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mwinnik{at}chem.utoronto.ca; ian.manners{at}bristol.ac.uk
