Article
Polymer Science
Deniz Coban, Olga Gridina, Matthias Karg, Andre H. Groeschel
Summary: This study describes design rules for controlling the morphology of multicompartment micelles (MCMs) in water and proposes a method to predict the final MCM shape based on the molar ratio of PEO to PMA.
Article
Polymer Science
Naoki Ozawa, Ji Ha Lee, Isamu Akiba, Tomoki Nishimura
Summary: Polymer architecture has a significant influence on the morphology of polymer self-assemblies. However, there is limited understanding of how changes in macromolecular architecture affect the structures of self-assemblies and the conformation of polymer chains within them. In this study, we examined the self-assembly behavior of four different amphiphilic copolymers with varying chain configurations. We found that changes in macromolecular architecture can result in the formation of different nanostructures, and the conformation of polymer chains within the self-assemblies also varies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weijie Wang, Xian Xu, Caihong Zhang, Hao Huang, Liping Zhu, Kan Yue, Meifang Zhu, Shuguang Yang
Summary: Inspired by the structure of skeletal muscle fibers, a new polymeric actuator has been developed using assembled polymers, which shows outstanding performance similar to skeletal muscle fibers and features of mollusc muscle.
Review
Polymer Science
Yusuke Sakamoto, Tomoki Nishimura
Summary: The self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers is a powerful tool for fabricating nanoparticles with various nanostructures in aqueous solutions. The self-assembly behavior of amphiphilic copolymers is influenced by polymer architecture, and amphiphilic graft copolymers exhibit unique self-assembly behavior, forming nanostructures that cannot be formed by block polymers. However, the self-assembly of amphiphilic graft copolymers is still relatively unexplored.
Article
Polymer Science
Enrique Folgado, Matthias Mayor, Didier Cot, Michel Ramonda, Franck Godiard, Vincent Ladmiral, Mona Semsarilar
Summary: Amphiphilic block copolymers PNIPAM-b-PVDF were synthesized via RAFT polymerization, capable of self-assembling into various morphologies which can be controlled by changing the DP of the PVDF block, and exhibiting thermosensitive behavior.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alice Gontier, Frederic Renou, Olivier Colombani, Fabrice Burel, Gaelle Morandi
Summary: This study reports the development of mixed micelles in aqueous solution with tunable cloud point temperature by blending two copolymers of different chemical natures. The blending approach demonstrated the relevance in tuning the phase separation of micellar systems, extending the range of application temperature for lipid-b-P(iPrOx).
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aleksandr Buglakov, Valentina V. Vasilevskaya
Summary: Amphiphilic polymers in mixed solvents can form fibrils and gels through cononsolvency effect. The gelation mechanism is dependent on solvent interactions, and the morphology of the resulting fibrillar gel can be controlled by changing binary solvent composition. This study provides insights into the formation and properties of fibrillar gels, which can be useful for controlling synthetic matrix morphologies in tissue engineering.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tae-Yi Kim, Su-Mi Hur, Abelardo Ramirez-Hernandez
Summary: This study used dissipative particle dynamics to investigate the solution self-assembly of symmetric ABCBA linear pentablock polymers in a selective solvent and examined the effect of block sequence, composition, and polymer concentration on the final morphology and polymer conformations. The results confirmed that block sequence affects the self-assembled morphology and has a strong influence on polymer conformations, leading to the formation of physical gels for the sequence where the solvophilic block is located in the middle of the macromolecule. Our findings are summarized in morphology diagrams in the composition concentration parameter space.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Sophia A. Pavlenko, Daniil E. Larin, Elena N. Govorun
Summary: This study theoretically investigates the self-assembly structures of thermoresponsive polymers and compares them with other types of copolymers through simulation calculations.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tae-Yi Kim, Su-Mi Hur, Abelardo Ramirez-Hernandez
Summary: This study investigates the solution self-assembly of symmetric ABCBA linear pentablock polymers in a selective solvent using dissipative particle dynamics. The effects of block sequence, composition, and polymer concentration on the final morphology and polymer conformations are examined. It is found that block sequence influences the self-assembled morphologies and the solvophilic block located in the middle of the macromolecule leads to the formation of physical gels. The results are summarized in morphology diagrams in the composition-concentration parameter space.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Guangran Shao, Yuan Liu, Rong Cao, Guang Han, Bing Yuan, Wangqing Zhang
Summary: Thermo-responsive block copolymers have attracted a lot of attention due to their mature synthesis technology, well-defined structure, controllable molecular weight, and easy implementation of their nano-assemblies in water through temperature regulation. Previous reviews have mainly focused on their biomedical applications, but these polymers also show promising potential in temperature-regulated adsorption and/or separation, nanoreactors for green organic synthesis, etc. This review summarizes the recent progress in thermo-responsive assembly in water and highlights the applications of five different thermo-responsive block copolymers beyond the biomedical field.
Article
Polymer Science
Ke Wang, Jialu Zhang, Meiyu Si, Zilong Wang, Liru An, Guiyan Liu, Yongfei Zeng
Summary: A series of temperature/pH/CO2/redox-quadruple-responsive ferrocene-containing homopolymers were synthesized and their responsive behavior and self-assembly properties were investigated. These homopolymers exhibited excellent response and modulation performance under multiple stimuli, offering great potential for various applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sang-Woo Jeon, Young-Jin Yoon, Sang-Min Park, Jong Dae Jang, Tae-Hwan Kim
Summary: This study reports the unusual self-assembly of two different types of Pluronic P65 and PE6200 triblock copolymer blends in aqueous solution, dependent on temperature and PE6200 concentration. The closed looplike phase transition observed in this system allows for controlled phase transitions at specific temperatures, with potential applications in nanosized templates and optical devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongjun Jin, Ziyan Wu, Weilin Lin, Yinye Chen, Jingran Zhang, Ruyi Zheng, Haibing Wei, Qinghua Chen, Qingrong Qian, Jianbin Huang, Jie Zhang, Yun Yan
Summary: In this study, size-controllable tetragonal nanoprisms were formed through crystallization-directed ionic self-assembly (CDISA) by evaporating a micellar solution on solid substrates. The length and width of the nanoprisms can be easily tuned by varying the initial concentration. This precise size-control strategy is expected to provide new possibilities for designing advanced materials with size-controllable anisotropic nanostructures.
Review
Polymer Science
Marc Guerre, Gerald Lopez, Bruno Ameduri, Mona Semsarilar, Vincent Ladmiral
Summary: Fluoropolymers have remarkable properties such as high resistance to chemicals, UV, and heat, as well as ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity. The incorporation of fluorinated moieties can confer unique properties, leading to self-assembly in solution and original morphologies with rare properties. Advances in organic and polymer chemistry have allowed for the design of fluorinated copolymer architectures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyun Cai, Shuochen Zhao, Jiaping Lin, Liangshun Zhang
Summary: This study presents a general method of controllable coassembly of bivalent DNA-functionalized nanoparticles into heterostructures via stepwise polymerization, and develops a quantitative model to predict the kinetics and outcomes of coassembly. The strategy can be applied to various regular nanopolymers with complex architectures. The research provides insights for the rational design of supramolecular DNA materials.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Songqi Zhang, Shi Du, Liquan Wang, Jiaping Lin, Lei Du, Xinyao Xu, Liang Gao
Summary: This study proposed a new approach using a materials genome method to design and screen silicon-containing acetylene resins with excellent processing properties and heat resistance. Through high-throughput screening and machine learning model prediction, a promising silicon-containing acetylene resin was successfully synthesized, confirming improved processing properties.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Meng Chen, Chunhua Cai, Jie Bao, Yuliu Du, Hongbing Gao, Xiucai Liu
Summary: This work investigates the effects of variations in aliphatic chain length and component content in aliphatic aromatic terpolymers on the properties of the polyesters. The results indicate successful synthesis of the desired co-polyesters and the ability to achieve the coexistence of different crystals by adjusting the chain length and component content, resulting in improved biodegradability.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yaxi Hu, Wenlin Zhao, Liquan Wang, Jiaping Lin, Lei Du
Summary: This paper proposes a machine-assisted materials genome (MGA) approach to design novel epoxy thermosets with excellent mechanical properties using machine learning models. A proof-of-concept experiment is conducted to verify the designed structures and gene substructures affecting mechanical properties are extracted, revealing the mechanisms of high-performance polymers.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yike Yao, Liang Gao, Chunhua Cai, Jiaping Lin, Shaoliang Lin
Summary: Introducing a second component is an effective way to manipulate polymerization behavior. However, this phenomenon has rarely been observed in colloidal systems, such as polymeric nanoparticles. Here, we report the supramolecular polymerization of polymeric nanorods mediated by block copolymers. Experimental observations and simulation results illustrate that block copolymers surround the polymeric nanorods and mainly concentrate around the two ends, leaving the hydrophobic side regions exposed. These polymeric nanorods connect in a side-by-side manner through hydrophobic interactions to form bundles. As polymerization progresses, the block copolymers gradually deposit onto the bundles and finally assemble into helical nanopatterns on the outermost surface, which terminates the polymerization. It is anticipated that this work could offer inspiration for a general strategy of controllable supramolecular polymerization.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengyan Zhang, Liang Gao, Jiaping Lin, Liquan Wang
Summary: Precise control of size and dimension is crucial for constructing complex hierarchical nanostructures. Brownian dynamics simulations revealed that 2D-1D hybrid micelles can be formed via liquid-crystallization-driven self-assembly. The structural transition of the micelle core and the sequential generation of cylindrical arms provide explanations to some unaddressed issues in experiments. The hybrid micelles also exhibit high surface area and distinctive suspension behaviors, making them a good stabilizer.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuting Gong, Tianyi Wang, Jiaping Lin, Liquan Wang
Summary: Polymers can be attached to nanoparticles either dynamically or permanently, resulting in polymer-functionalized nanoparticles. The mobility of polymer brushes anchored to nanoparticles can affect surface patterns, but the impact is unclear. This study used self-consistent field theory calculations to investigate the influence of lateral polymer mobility on surface patterning. The results demonstrated that the fraction of mobile brushes significantly influences the surface patterning of polymer-functionalized nanoparticles. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the dependence of surface patterning on lateral polymer mobility.
Article
Polymer Science
Chunhua Cai, Jiaping Lin
Summary: This article focuses on the recent advances in the solution self-assembly of polypeptides, including new driving forces for polypeptide self-assembly and novel preparation methods. The self-assembly behavior and diversity of structures are studied through liquid crystallization, conformation variation, supramolecular polymerization, substrate-mediated self-assembly, and polymerization-induced self-assembly. In conclusion, the trends in polypeptide solution self-assembly are discussed.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanli Zhao, Xinfeng Tao, Jiaping Lin, Shaoliang Lin
Summary: A simple and robust template-free solvothermal strategy is reported to obtain azobenzene-dangled COFs. The crystallinity, specific surface area, and morphology of Azo-COFs can be controlled by changing the ratio of amine to aldehyde monomers. The reversible trans-to-cis isomerization of the dangled azobenzene units inside the pores allows for intelligent regulation of surface wettability and enhanced adsorption capacity.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yutong Tang, Tianyun Cai, Jiaping Lin, Liangshun Zhang
Summary: By regulating the coassembly pathways, the orientation-dependent assembly of nanorods can be achieved in block copolymer nanocomposites, leading to defect-free nanostructures. The preferred orientation of nanorods can be finely tuned by thermodynamic variables, and end-to-end aligned nanorods can enhance the mechanical strength of nanostructured composites.
Article
Polymer Science
Boyu Zhang, Jiaping Lin, Lei Du, Liangshun Zhang
Summary: In this study, the molecular transformer model is integrated with data augmentation and normalization preprocessing strategies to accomplish three tasks in chemical reactions. The results demonstrate that the prediction accuracy of the molecular transformer model can be significantly improved with the proposed strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinyao Xu, Wenlin Zhao, Yaxi Hu, Liquan Wang, Jiaping Lin, Huimin Qi, Lei Du
Summary: Traditional material design principles for thermosetting polymers are inefficient due to conflicting properties. Machine learning combined with limited experimental data and all-atomic simulations can establish robust property estimation models. Virtual candidates are screened and promising polycyanurates are identified through well-trained ML models, verified by theoretical simulations and proof-of-concept experiments. The proposed framework can accelerate the rational design of polymers and reveal underlying physical rules.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)