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Jiang J, Nikbin E, Liu Y, Lei S, Ye G, Howe JY, Manners I, Winnik MA. Defect-Induced Secondary Crystals Drive Two-Dimensional to Three-Dimensional Morphological Evolution in the Co-Self-Assembly of Polyferrocenylsilane Block Copolymer and Homopolymer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:28096-28110. [PMID: 38088827 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Bottom-up fabrication protocols for uniform 3D hierarchical structures in solution are rare. We report two different approaches to fabricate uniform 3D spherulites and their precursors using mixtures of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFS) block copolymer (BCP) and PFS homopolymer (HP). Both protocols are designed to promote defects in 2D assemblies that serve as intermediate structures. In a multistep seeded growth protocol, we add the BCP/HP mixture to (1D) rod-like PFS micelles in a selective solvent as first-generation seeds. This leads to 2D platelet structures. If this step is conducted at a high supersaturation, secondary crystals form on the basal surface of these platelets. Co-crystallization and rapid crystallization of BCP/HP promote the formation of defects that act as nucleation sites for secondary crystals, resulting in multilayer platelets. This is the key step. The multilayer platelets serve as second-generation seeds upon subsequent addition of BCP/HP blends and, with increasing supersaturation, lead to the sequential formation of uniform (3D) hedrites, sheaves, and spherulites. Similar structures can also be obtained by a simple one-pot direct self-assembly (heating-cooling-aging) protocol of PFS BCP/HP blends. In this case, for a carefully chosen but narrow temperature range, PFS HPs nucleate formation of uniform structures, and the annealing temperature regulates the supersaturation level. In both protocols, the competitive crystallization kinetics of HP/BCP affects the morphology. Both protocols exhibit broad generality. We believe the morphological transformation from 2D to 3D structures, regulated by defect formation, co-crystallization, and supersaturation levels, could apply to various semicrystalline polymers. Moreover, the 3D structures are sufficiently robust to serve as recoverable carriers for nanoparticle catalysts, exhibiting valuable catalytic activity and opening new possibilities for applications requiring exquisite 3D structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ehsan Nikbin
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Shixing Lei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Gang Ye
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jane Y Howe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Mitchell A Winnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
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Jiang J, Nikbin E, Hicks G, Song S, Liu Y, Wong ECN, Manners I, Howe JY, Winnik MA. Polyferrocenylsilane Block Copolymer Spherulites in Dilute Solution. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:1247-1261. [PMID: 36598864 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of block copolymers (BCP) into uniform 3D structures in solution is an extremely rare phenomenon. Furthermore, the investigation of general prerequisites for fabricating a specific uniform 3D structure remains unknown and challenging. Here, through a simple one-pot direct self-assembly (heating and cooling) protocol, we show that uniform spherulite-like structures and their precursors can be prepared with various poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFS) BCPs in a variety of polar and non-polar solvents. These structures all evolve from elongated lamellae into hedrites, sheaf-like micelles, and finally spherulites as the annealing temperature and supersaturation degree are increased. The key feature leading to this growth trajectory is the formation of secondary crystals by self-nucleation on the surface of early-elongated lamellae. We identified general prerequisites for fabricating PFS BCP spherulites in solution. These include corona/PFS core block ratios in the range of 1-5.5 that favor the formation of 2D structures as well as the development of secondary crystals on the basal faces of platelets at early stages of the self-assembly. The one-pot direct self-assembly provides a general protocol to form uniform spherulites and their precursors consisting of PFS BCPs that match these prerequisites. In addition, we show that manipulation of various steps in the direct self-assembly protocol can regulate the size and shape of the structures formed. These general concepts show promise for the fabrication and optimization of spherulites and their precursors from semicrystalline BCPs with interesting optical, electronic, or biomedical properties using the one-pot direct self-assembly protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ehsan Nikbin
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Garion Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Shaofei Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Edmond C N Wong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - Jane Y Howe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Mitchell A Winnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
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3
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Su E, Bayazit G, Ide S, Okay O. Butyl rubber-based interpenetrating polymer networks with side chain crystallinity: Self-healing and shape-memory polymers with tunable thermal and mechanical properties. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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4
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Yang C, Li Z, Xu J. Single crystals and two‐dimensional crystalline assemblies of block copolymers. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Zi‐Xian Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Jun‐Ting Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
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5
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Chen W, Bessif B, Reiter R, Xu J, Reiter G. Controlled Switching from the Growth of Monolamellar Polymer Crystals to the Formation of Stacks of Uniquely Oriented Lamellae. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weixiang Chen
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Brahim Bessif
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Renate Reiter
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg 79104, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Jun Xu
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Günter Reiter
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg 79104, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
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6
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Guo Z, Yuan C, Song C, Xin R, Hou C, Hu J, Li H, Sun X, Ren Z, Yan S. Temperature-Dependent Reversibility of Epitaxy between Isotactic Polystyrene and Polypropylene. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chenyuhe Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chunfeng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Rui Xin
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Chunyue Hou
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Jian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Huihui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaoli Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhongjie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shouke Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
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7
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Song S, Zhou H, Ye S, Tam J, Howe JY, Manners I, Winnik MA. Spherulite‐Like Micelles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202101177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaofei Song
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Hang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Shuyang Ye
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Jason Tam
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Toronto 184 College Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3E4 Canada
| | - Jane Y. Howe
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Toronto 184 College Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3E4 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry University of Victoria 3800 Finnerty Road Victoria British Columbia V8P 5C2 Canada
| | - Mitchell A. Winnik
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3H6 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
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8
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Song S, Zhou H, Ye S, Tam J, Howe JY, Manners I, Winnik MA. Spherulite-Like Micelles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10950-10956. [PMID: 33626229 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202101177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
One-dimensional (1D) and 2D structures by crystallization-driven self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) can form fascinating hierarchical structures through secondary self-assembly. But examples of 3D structures formed via hierarchical self-assembly are rare. Here we report seeded growth experiments in decane of a poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) BCP with an amphiphilic corona forming block in which lenticular platelets grow into classic spherulite-like uniform colloidally stable structures. These 3D objects are spherically symmetric on the exterior, but asymmetric near the core, where there is a more open structure consisting of sheaf-like leaves. The most remarkable aspect of these experiments is that growth stops at different stages of growth process, depending upon how much unimer is added in the seeded growth step. The system provides a model for studying spherulitic growth where real-time observations on their growth at different stages remains challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofei Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Hang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Shuyang Ye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Jason Tam
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Jane Y Howe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E4, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Mitchell A Winnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Guo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Experimental Polymer Physics, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Str. 3, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Shouke Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Günter Reiter
- Experimental Polymer Physics, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Str. 3, Freiburg 79104, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, Freiburg 79104, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, Freiburg 79110, Germany
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10
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Abstract
Nucleation plays a vital role in polymer crystallization, in which chain connectivity and thus the multiple length and time scales make crystal nucleation of polymer chains an interesting but complex subject. Though the topic has been intensively studied in the past decades, there are still many open questions to answer. The final properties of semicrystalline polymer materials are affected by all of the following: the starting melt, paths of nucleation, organization of lamellar crystals and evolution of the final crystalline structures. In this viewpoint, we attempt to discuss some of the remaining open questions and corresponding concepts: non-equilibrated polymers, self-induced nucleation, microscopic kinetics of different processes, metastability of polymer lamellar crystals, hierarchical order and cooperativity involved in nucleation, etc. Addressing these open questions through a combination of novel concepts, new theories and advanced approaches provides a deeper understanding of the multifaceted process of crystal nucleation of polymers.
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