Block copolymers form a large number of superlattices with characteristic dimensions in the range of a few nanometers up to several micrometers by self-organization. The interplay of supramolecular physics and chemistry opens up new approaches to the production of inorganic, organic, and biological structures and to their integration into functional units. Possible applications in the fields of...

The thermodynamics of conventional surfactants, block copolymers and their mixtures in water was described to the light of the enthalpy function. The two methodologies, i.e. the van't Hoff approach and the isothermal calorimetry, used to determine the enthalpy of micellization of pure surfactants and block copolymers were described. The van't Hoff method was critically discussed. The aqueous co...

Research on block copolymers (BCPs) has played a critical role in the development of polymer chemistry, with numerous pivotal contributions that have advanced our ability to prepare, characterize, theoretically model, and technologically exploit this class of materials in a myriad of ways in the fields of chemistry, physics, material sciences, and biological and medical sciences. The breathtaki...

The synthesis and self-assembly behavior of biohybrid ABC triblock copolymers consisting of a synthetic diblock, polystyrene-b-polyethylene glycol (PSm-b-PEG113), where m is varied, and a hemeprotein, myoglobin (Mb) or horse radish peroxidase (HRP), is described. The synthetic diblock copolymer is first functionalized with the heme cofactor and subsequently reconstituted with the apoprotein or ...

Diblock copolymers of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene (PFS) and butyl acrylate (BuA) were synthesized by nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP). By varying the conversion and/or BuA monomer to PPFS macro-initiator ratio, various molar compositions block copolymer BCP obtained. Due immiscibility both polymeric blocks, phase separation at nanometre scale occurred. The variety gave rise a large pane...

The nanophase separation in diblock and triblock copolymers consisting of immiscible poly(n butyl acrylate) (block A) and gradient copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n butyl acrylate (n BA) (block M/A) were investigated by means of their heat capacity, Cp, as a function of the composition of the blocks M/A and temperature. In all copolymers studied, both blocks are represented by their...

We report a catalytic system that produces olefin block copolymers with alternating semicrystalline and amorphous segments, achieved by varying the ratio of alpha-olefin to ethylene in the two types of blocks. The system uses a chain shuttling agent to transfer growing chains between two distinct catalysts with different monomer selectivities in a single polymerization reactor. The block copoly...

We determine the statistical properties of block copolymers in solution. These complexes are assumed to have the topological structure of connected graphs with "nonnested" loops and cycles. The generating function method is used to determine the number of topologically different complexes containing a given number of block copolymers. It is shown that at sufficiently high concentration the syst...

A generic noncovalent approach for dispersing high concentrations of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in organic as well as aqueous solutions of synthetic block copolymers is presented. It is suggested that a weak, long-ranged entropic repulsion among polymer-decorated tubes acts as a barrier that prevents the tubes from approaching the attractive part of the intertube potential...

Block copolymers are versatile designer macromolecules where a “bottom-up” approach can be used to create tailored materials with unique properties. These simple building blocks allow us to create actuators that convert energy from a variety of sources (such as chemical, electrical and heat) into mechanical energy. In this review we will discuss the advantages and potential pitfalls of using bl...