Hybrid Hairy Platelets with Tunable Structures by Inclusion Crystallization of Polyferrocene-Containing Block Copolymers and Silicotungstic Acid.

Abstract

Herein, we report hybrid hairy platelets formed by block copolymers containing a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) midblock and polyferrocene end-blocks with silicotungstic acid (STA). As inclusion crystallization of PEO midblocks and STA clusters lead to crystalline lamellae in thin films at room temperature, the polyferrocene end-blocks that are excluded from the lattice will graft on the surface of the lamellae, giving rise to hybrid hairy platelets. The dependence of crystallographic structures and morphologies of platelets on the length of end-blocks is investigated. The presence of relatively long end-blocks induces the formation of an inclusion crystal with a tetragonal cell (termed as β-form), whereas an inclusion crystal with an orthorhombic cell (termed as α-form) can be formed with block copolymers with relatively shorter end-blocks.