Characterization and Properties of Block Copolymers
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 2681
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Block copolymers (BCPs) have been widely employed for preparing nanomaterials in bulk or in selective solvents. Generally, for the synthesis of block copolymers, people can use living/controlled polymerization methodologies by adding different monomers sequentially, or employ some coupling reactions to link two or more polymer chains. Given the molecular weights (MWs), molecular weight distributions (MWDs) and block ratios, researchers have been contributing to the probing for more synthesis protocols and purification methods to obtain the desired BCPs. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other instruments are effective characterization methods in the preparation of BCPs. Researchers have discovered many new approaches to develop pure BCPs, such as redissolution–precipitation, chromatography, etc. Therefore, it is scientifically necessary for them to report their work in a timely manner, allowing their colleagues to learn about the progress and promoting the development of block copolymers and their self-assembly into nanomaterials.
As a powerful bottom-up technique to access nanomaterials, BCP self-assembly is a very promising approach to produce materials with various morphologies. It is an important property of BCPs. Phase separation in bulk and solvent effects/amphiphilic interactions in selective solvents drive the formation of ordered or regular structures. Especially, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) and crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA), as well as other interesting self-assembly protocols, have attracted growing interest in polymer chemistry and materials. For instance, solid electrolytes using BCPs also are intriguing materials for manufacturing batteries. Furthermore, BCPs show other properties and performance aspects that can be applied in chemistry and materials.
The current Special Issue will focus on, but is not limited to, the synthesis, characterization, phase behavior, assembly and other properties of BCPs. Research articles, as well as reviews, are welcome in this Special Issue.
Prof. Dr. Shaofei Song
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- block copolymers
- synthesis and characterization of block copolymers
- purification techniques to access block copolymers
- phase separation behavior of block copolymers in bulk
- block copolymer self-assembly
- polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) and crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA)
- block copolymer micelles
- block copolymer electrolytes
- lithography by block copolymers
- nanomaterials by block copolymers
- applications of BCP nanostructures
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