Journal Article

FZJ-2020-02109

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Thermoresponsive Molecular Brushes with Propylene Oxide/Ethylene Oxide Copolymer Side Chains in Aqueous Solution

Kang, J.-J. ; Jung, F. A. ; Ko, C.-H. ; Shehu, K. ; Barnsley, L. C.FZJ* ; Kohler, F. ; Dietz, H. ; Zhao, J. ; Pispas, S. ; Papadakis, C. M. (Corresponding author)

2020
Soc. Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/25051  doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00263

Abstract: The thermoresponsive behavior of two molecular brushes having poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer side chains is investigated in aqueous solution, where the side chains have longer contour lengths than the backbone. The brushes differ in the side-chain architecture; they are either a diblock (PbE) or a random copolymer (PrE). For both types of brushes, an overall rodlike shape at room temperature is revealed by cryo-electron microscopy. A polymer-rich central part and a water-rich outer part are identified by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Upon heating up to the cloud point, the shell of PbE weakly dehydrates, while the one of PrE severely dehydrates along with a cylinder-to-disk transformation. Moreover, the aggregates formed above the cloud points feature significantly different inner structures: PbE aggregates are composed of strongly interpenetrating brushes, while PrE aggregates consist of loosely packed brushes. These differences indicate the important role of the side-chain architecture in the thermal dehydration behavior and the associated structural changes.

Keyword(s): Polymers, Soft Nano Particles and Proteins (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Neutronenstreuung (JCNS-1)
3. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G15 - FRM II / MLZ (POF3-6G15) (POF3-6G15)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (POF3-623) (POF3-623)

Experiment(s):

1. KWS-1: Small angle scattering diffractometer (NL3b)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; Chemical Reactions ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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