Cylindrical micelles of a POSS amphiphilic dendrimer as nano-reactors for polymerization
Journal
Nanoscale
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
7
Pages
3509-3517
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Weng J.-T.
Yeh T.-F.
Samuel A.Z.
Huang Y.-F.
Sie J.-H.
Wu K.-Y.
Hamaguchi H.-O.
Abstract
A low generation amphiphilic dendrimer, POSS-AD, which has a POSS core and eight amphiphilic arms, was synthesized and used as a nano-reactor to produce well-defined polymer nano-cylinders. Confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Raman and NMR spectrometry, monodispersed cylindrical micelles that contain a hydrophilic cavity with a diameter of 2.09 nm and a length of 4.26 nm were produced via co-assembling POSS-AD with hydrophilic liquids, such as H2O and HEMA in hydrophobic solvents. Taking the HEMA/POSS-AD cylindrical micelles as nano-reactors, polymerization of HEMA within the micelles results in polymer nano-cylinders (POSS-ADNPs) with a diameter of 2.24 nm and a length of 5.02 nm. The study confirmed that despite the inability to maintain specific shape in solution, low generation dendrimers form well-defined nano-containers or nano-reactors, which relies on co-assembling with hydrophilic guest molecules. These nano-reactors are robust enough to maintain their shape during the polymerization of the guest molecules. Polymer nano-cylinders with dimensions less than 10 nm can thus be produced from the HEMA/POSS-AD micelles. Since the chemical structure of low-generation dendrimers and the contents of the co-assembled nano-reactors can be easily adjusted, the concept holds the potential for the further developments of low-generation amphiphilic dendrimers. ? 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Cylinders (containers);Cylinders (shapes);Hydrophilicity;Micelles;Molecules;Polymerization;X ray scattering;Amphiphilic dendrimers;Cylindrical micelles;Further development;Guest molecules;Hydrophobic solvent;Mono-dispersed;Nanocylinders;NMR spectrometry;Dendrimers
Type
journal article