One-Dimensional Helical Nanostructures from the Hierarchical Self-Assembly of an Achiral "Rod-Coil" Alternating Copolymer.
Macromol Rapid Commun
; 43(21): e2200437, 2022 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35726773
ABSTRACT
The self-assembly of alternating copolymers (ACPs) has attracted considerable interest due to their unique alternating nature. However, compared with block copolymers, their self-assembly behavior remains much less explored and their reported self-assembled structures are limited. Here, the formation of supramolecular helical structures by the self-assembly of an achiral rod-coil alternating copolymer named as poly(quarter(3-hexylthiophene)-alt-poly(ethylene glycol)) (P(Q3HT-alt-PEG)), is reported. The copolymer exhibits an interesting hierarchical self-assembly process, driven by the π-π stacking of the Q3HT segments and the solvophobic interaction of the alkyl chains in tetrahydrofuran (THF)-isopropanol mixed solvents. The copolymer first self-assembled into thin nanobelts with a uniform size, then grows to helical nanoribbons and eventually twisted into helical nanowires with an average diameter of 25 ± 9 nm and a mean pitch of 80 ± 10 nm. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation supports the formation course of the helical nanowires. Furthermore, the addition of (S)-ethyl lactate and (R)-ethyl lactate in the self-assembly of P(Q3HT-alt-PEG) results in the formation of left-handed and right-handed chiral nanowires, respectively, demonstrating the tunability of the chirality of the helical wires. This study expands the library of ordered self-assembled structures of ACPs, and also brings a new strategy and mechanism to construct helical supramolecular structures.
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1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Macromol Rapid Commun
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China