Nanostructured Single Crystals Sandwiched between Ordered/Disordered Coily and Rod Brushes

Abstract

<em>Single crystals of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-b-polystyrene (PS), PEG-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PEG-b-polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyaniline (PANI)-b-PEG-b-PANI were developed from dilute solutions and thin molten films using self-seeding methodology. The PS and PMMA grafted chains were categorized in disordered nano-brushes; however, the PCL and PANI ones were grouped in ordered nano-brushes. The characteristics of grown single crystals such as surface morphology, growth planes, and thicknesses were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Electron Diffraction (ED) in Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). The thickness of PEG substrates, as well as polymer nano-brushes, were in the nanoscale (2-150 nm). Furthermore, the special morphologies of polymer mixed-brushes developed through the growth of single crystals of PEG-b-PS and PEG-b-PMMA diblock copolymers were introduced and characterized. Regardless of different morphologies, the total, substrate and amorphous thicknesses, tethering density as well as ED patterns were compatible in the phase regions covered by similar nano-brushes.</em>