Creating openings in vesicle-like polymer nanocavities via templates of nano-scale salt crystals.

• Main Author: Wang, Ya Wen.
• Other Authors: Chen Hongyu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Chemistry::Physical chemistry::Solid state chemistry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38937
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A novel synthesis of a vesicle-like polymer nanocavity which has an opening on the bi-layer shell was achieved with "crew-cut" amphiphilic diblock copolymer PS404-b-PAA62 in an N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-H2O-electrolyte ternary system. The mechanism of the formation of this nanocavity was studied, with detailed investigation of the each step in this simple one-pot manner synthesis. The structure was believed to form by the assembly of polymer on the nano-scale template made of electrolytes, followed by the structure deformation caused by surface tension upon water addition. The generality of the methodology was also performed with a variety of different electrolytes and solvent systems.