Development of Shape-Tuned, Monodisperse Block Copolymer Particles through Solvent-Mediated Particle Restructuring

Abstract

Control of the shape, size, internal structure, and uniformity of block copolymer (BCP) particles is crucial for determining their utility and functionality in practical applications. Here, we demonstrate a particle restructuring by solvent engineering (PRSE) strategy that combines membrane emulsification and solvent annealing processes to produce monodisperse BCP particles with controlled size, shape, and internal structure. A major advantage of the PRSE approach is the general applicability to different families of functional BCPs, including polystyrene-block-poly(1,4-butadiene) (PS-b-PB), polystyrene-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PS-b-PDMS), and polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP). PRSE starts with the production of monodisperse BCP spheres in a wide range of particle sizes (from hundreds of nanometers to several tens of microns) using membrane emulsification, followed by successful transformation to shape-anisotropic BCP particles by solvent annealing under neutral wetting conditions. ...