1
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Weisbord I, Segal-Peretz T. Revealing the 3D Structure of Block Copolymers with Electron Microscopy: Current Status and Future Directions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:58003-58022. [PMID: 37338172 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c02956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Block copolymers (BCPs) are considered model systems for understanding and utilizing self-assembly in soft matter. Their tunable nanometric structure and composition enable comprehensive studies of self-assembly processes as well as make them relevant materials in diverse applications. A key step in developing and controlling BCP nanostructures is a full understanding of their three-dimensional (3D) structure and how this structure is affected by the BCP chemistry, confinement, boundary conditions, and the self-assembly evolution and dynamics. Electron microscopy (EM) is a leading method in BCP 3D characterization owing to its high resolution in imaging nanosized structures. Here we discuss the two main 3D EM methods: namely, transmission EM tomography and slice and view scanning EM tomography. We present each method's principles, examine their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss ways researchers have devised to overcome some of the challenges in BCP 3D characterization with EM- from specimen preparation to imaging radiation-sensitive materials. Importantly, we review current and new cutting-edge EM methods such as direct electron detectors, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of soft matter, high temporal rate imaging, and single-particle analysis that have great potential for expanding the BCP understanding through EM in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Weisbord
- Chemical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Tamar Segal-Peretz
- Chemical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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2
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Liu JY, Song HR, Wang M, Jin SH, Liang Z, Mao X, Li W, Deng RH, Zhu JT. Asymmetric Mesoporous Carbon Microparticles by 3D-Confined Self-Assembly of Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends and Selective Carbonization. CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10118-023-2935-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
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3
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Zheng X, Ren M, Wang H, Wang H, Geng Z, Xu J, Deng R, Chen S, Binder WH, Zhu J. Halogen-Bond Mediated 3D Confined Assembly of AB Diblock Copolymer and C Homopolymer Blends. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2007570. [PMID: 33734588 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202007570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Halogen-bond driven assembly, a world parallel to hydrogen-bond, has emerged as an attractive tool for constructing (macro)molecular arrangement. However, knowledge about halogen-bond mediated confined-assembly in emulsion droplets is limited so far. An I…. N bond mediated confined-assembly pathway to enable order-order phase transitions is reported here. Compared to hydrogen bonds, the distinct features of halogen bonds (e.g., higher directionality, hydrophobicity, favored in polar solvents), offers opportunities to achieve novel nanostructures and materials. Polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) AB diblock copolymer is chosen as halogen acceptor, while an iodotetrafluorophenoxy substituted C-type homopolymer, (poly(3-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-iodophenoxy)propyl acrylate), PTFIPA) is designed as halogen donor, synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Formation of halogen bonding donor-acceptor pairs between the PTFIPA homopolymer and the P4VP segments presented in PS-b-P4VP, increase the volume of P4VP domains, in turn inducing an order-to-order morphology transition sequence: changing from spherical → cylindrical → lamellar → inverse cylindrical, by tuning the PTFIPA content and choice of surfactant. Subsequent selective swelling/deswelling of the P4VP domains give rise to further internal morphology transitions, creating tailored mesoporous microparticles, disassembled nanodiscs, and superaggregates. It is believed that these results will stimulate further examinations of halogen bonding interactions in emulsion droplets and many areas of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xihuang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Min Ren
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huayang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huiying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhen Geng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jiangping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Renhua Deng
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Senbin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wolfgang H Binder
- Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science II, (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Jintao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education (HUST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
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4
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Yu Q, Sun N, Hu D, Wang Y, Chang X, Yan N, Zhu Y, Li Y. Encapsulation of inorganic nanoparticles in a block copolymer vesicle wall driven by the interfacial instability of emulsion droplets. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00744k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We proposed an effective route, i.e., three-dimensional confined co-assembly of block copolymers and inorganic nanoparticles, to efficiently encapsulate high-density and large-size nanoparticles into the wall of polymeric vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunli Yu
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
| | - Nan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun 130022
- China
| | - Dengwen Hu
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
| | - Yaping Wang
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
| | - Xiaohua Chang
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
| | - Nan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun 130022
- China
| | - Yutian Zhu
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
| | - Yongjin Li
- College of Material
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Hangzhou Normal University
- Hangzhou 311121
- China
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5
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Raya RK, Štěpánek M, Limpouchová Z, Procházka K, Svoboda M, Lísal M, Pavlova E, Skandalis A, Pispas S. Onion Micelles with an Interpolyelectrolyte Complex Middle Layer: Experimental Motivation and Computer Study. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar Raya
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Štěpánek
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Limpouchová
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Procházka
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 2030, 12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Svoboda
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkinje University, České mládeže 8, 400 96 Ústí n. Lab., Czech Republic
- Department of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, Rozvojová 135/1, 165 02 Prague 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lísal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkinje University, České mládeže 8, 400 96 Ústí n. Lab., Czech Republic
- Department of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, Rozvojová 135/1, 165 02 Prague 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Ewa Pavlova
- Department of Polymer Morphology, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS, Heyrovský Square 2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Athanasios Skandalis
- Theoretical & Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Stergios Pispas
- Theoretical & Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
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6
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Wang K, Jin SM, Li F, Tian D, Xu J, Lee E, Zhu J. Soft Confined Assembly of Polymer-Tethered Inorganic Nanoparticles in Cylindrical Micelles. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wang
- State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology and Key Lab of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion & Storage (HUST) of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan430074, China
| | - Seon-Mi Jin
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon305764, Republic of Korea
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Fan Li
- State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology and Key Lab of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion & Storage (HUST) of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan430074, China
| | - Di Tian
- State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology and Key Lab of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion & Storage (HUST) of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan430074, China
| | - Jiangping Xu
- State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology and Key Lab of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion & Storage (HUST) of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan430074, China
| | - Eunji Lee
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon305764, Republic of Korea
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jintao Zhu
- State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology and Key Lab of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion & Storage (HUST) of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan430074, China
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7
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Kim EJ, Shin JM, Kim Y, Ku KH, Yun H, Kim BJ. Shape control of nanostructured cone-shaped particles by tuning the blend morphology of A-b-B diblock copolymers and C-type copolymers within emulsion droplets. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py00306a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
An approach to blend AB-type block copolymers and C-type copolymers within the emulsion droplet is an efficient particle shape-engineering strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Ji Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Man Shin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - YongJoo Kim
- KAIST Institute for Nanocentury
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Kang Hee Ku
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Hongseok Yun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Bumjoon J. Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Daejeon
- 34141 Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for Nanocentury
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8
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Yang T, Zhu Y, Xue H, Li W. Defect Patterns from Controlled Heterogeneous Nucleations by Polygonal Confinements. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:5901-5909. [PMID: 29699397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Defects are often observed in crystalline structures. To regulate the formation or annihilation of defects presents an interesting question. In this work, we propose a method to fabricate defect patterns composed of regularly distributed steady "programmed defects", which is proceeded via the heterogeneous nucleation of a hexagonal pattern from a homogeneous state. The nucleation process occurring in a model system of AB-diblock/C-homopolymer blends under polygonal confinement is modeled by the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory and is simulated by the cell dynamics simulations. Specifically, we demonstrate the validity of this method by means of three polygonal confinements including square, pentagon, and octagon, which have mismatched angles with the hexagonal lattice. Each corner or side of the polygons induces a nucleation event separately. Two nucleated domain grains by two neighboring corners or sides exhibit incommensurate orientations, and thus their merging leads to a radial line of clustered defects in the form of five-seven pairs. As a result, these radial lines constitute a radial pattern of defects, and their number is equal to the side number of the polygon. The distance of five-seven defect pairs is dictated by the incommensurate angle between two neighboring grains, which is similar to that of defects in hard crystals. This method can be extended to fabricate diverse defect patterns by programming the nucleation agents beyond simple polygonal confinements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Information Sensing & Intelligent Desert, School of Physics and Electronic-Electrical Engineering , Ningxia University , Yinchuan 750021 , China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science , Fudan University , Shanghai 200433 , China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Information Sensing & Intelligent Desert, School of Physics and Electronic-Electrical Engineering , Ningxia University , Yinchuan 750021 , China
| | - Haiyan Xue
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Information Sensing & Intelligent Desert, School of Physics and Electronic-Electrical Engineering , Ningxia University , Yinchuan 750021 , China
| | - Weihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science , Fudan University , Shanghai 200433 , China
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9
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Sheng Y, Xia L, Yang G, Xia Y, Huang Y, Pan C, Zhu Y. Stepwise study on Janus-like particles fabricated by polymeric mixtures within soft droplets: a Monte Carlo simulation. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra06190k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Janus particles were fabricated using different polymer mixtures and the self-assembly behavior for different particles was compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Sheng
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
| | - Li Xia
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
| | - Guanzhou Yang
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yiqing Xia
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
- College of Materials Science and Engineering
| | - Yong Huang
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanjiang Pan
- Analytical and Testing Center
- Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
- Zigong 643000
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yutian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Changchun 130022
- People's Republic of China
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