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Ionic liquid-mediated synthesis and self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polystyrene copolymer by ATRP method

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Abstract

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polystyrene (PEG-b-PS) was synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using PEG-Br as the macroinitiator in an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]). CuBr and 2,2″-bipyridyl were used as the catalyst and ligand, respectively. The structure, composition, and molecular weight of the PEG-b-PS copolymer were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and gel permeation chromatography. The PEG-b-PS copolymer with a high molecular weight (M n  = 51,000 g mol−1) and relatively low polydispersity index (PDI = 1.35) was formed at 110 °C for 5 h. Self-assembly of this amphiphilic block copolymer in toluene at different concentrations and in dimethylformamide (DMF)/water systems was also examined. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the block copolymer formed different morphologies spontaneously according to the different solvent systems used.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2012009529).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 712-749, Republic of Korea

    Van Hoa Nguyen & Jae-Jin Shim

  2. Department of Chemistry, Nha Trang University, 2 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Nha Trang, Vietnam

    Van Hoa Nguyen

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  1. Van Hoa Nguyen
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  2. Jae-Jin Shim
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Correspondence to Jae-Jin Shim.

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Nguyen, V.H., Shim, JJ. Ionic liquid-mediated synthesis and self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polystyrene copolymer by ATRP method. Colloid Polym Sci 293, 617–623 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3431-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3431-5

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