KAIST CBE Special Seminar

- Speaker: Prof. Jintao Zhu

                   School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

                   Huazhong University of Science and Technology

- Title: Assembly of Polymers/Nanoparticles under Confined Spaces

- Date/Time: 21 August, 2014 (Thu) 4:30-5:30PM

- Place: #1101 @ W1-3 Bldg.

- Contact: Bumjoon Km (X3935)

■Abstract:

Compared to the self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) in bulk, assembly of BCPs under confinement can lead to various unexpected microphase-segregated structures, which not only opens a door for deep investigation of phase behavior of BCPs, but also offers a precise and powerful route for the preparation of nanostructured particles. Emulsion-solvent evaporation method is one of the most used pathways for the generation of polymeric colloidal particles. When confined in the emulsion droplets, BCPs can self-assemble into colloidal particles with phase separated nanostructures. These assemblies can be tuned by changing the chain length of the copolymers or adjusting the type and/or concentration of the surfactant used. BCP-based supramolecular polymers, formed by hydrogen-bonding of BCP with small molecules, with tunable volume fraction and interfacial free energy, have proved to be an effective way for controllable assembly. This talk will present several strategies to precisely control the assembly structures by varying molecular composition, interfacial interaction, confined effect, and supramolecular route. Moreover, selective disassembly of these nanostructured polymer particles can produce unique mesoporous particles or nano-objects (e.g., nanodices, nanocups and nanotoroids), which have potential applications in catalyst carrier, drug delivery and targeting therapy.