PMSE 220 |
| Today, both existing and emerging technologies require materials with structure control over multiple length scales, including nanoscale functional features. The availability of such materials would lead to important advances in many industries, including microelectronics and energy conversion, and in technology enabling processes such as electroluminescence, molecular separation and catalysis. We have studied ABC triblock copolymers with polyethylene oxide (PEO) middle and poly(n-alkyl methacrylate) end blocks. X-ray scattering and conductivity measurements confirm simultaneous control of order on multiple length scales. At the scale of 1-2nm, incompatible main and variable side-chains structure within the methacrylate block. Varying block size controls domain morphology at the 10-50nm scale and these superlattices can be macroscopically aligned. The PEO middle block accommodates silica-type sol nanoparticles leading to polymer-inorganic hybrids with highly anisotropic expansion coefficients. These results suggest a modular approach towards multifunctional nanomaterials through a combination of multi-domain soft and nanoscopic hard components. |
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Block Copolymers as Nanoscale Materials
1:30 PM-4:40 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 San Francisco Marriott -- Salon 7, Oral
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |