Solution self-assembly behavior of block copolymer blends with restricted hydrophilic block

Novel assembled structures due to segregation of hydrophobic domains trapped within the same micelle core have been produced via a block copolymer blend in tetrahydrofuran/water solution. The block copolymer blend is composed of two/or more block copolymers with shared poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrophilic block, but distinctive hydrophobic blocks. The blended micelles are created by taking advantage of the electrostatic association in the hydrophilic PAA shell between the negatively charged acid of the PAA block and added, positively charged organoamine molecules. Unlike hydrophobic blocks undergo local segregation. This segregation gives rise to new nanostructures deviated from traditional polymeric assemblies such as spheres, cylinders and vesicles. Transmission electron, cryogenic transmission electron, and atomic force microscopy along with x-ray and neutron scattering have been applied to characterize the assembled structures.