Nanoscale Organization of Fullerenes by Self-Assembly in a Diblock Copolymer Host Matrix

Abstract

This study illustrates the principle of a novel route to organize C60 on the nanoscale. The method we propose uses the self-assembled structure of a host polystyrene-b-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) copolymer as a scaffold to organize polystyrene stars with a C60 core, C60(PS)f (f = 2, 4, and 6). The effect of the molecular architecture of the stars (size of the PS arms and functionality f) on the microstructures formed in the blends with a symmetric PS-b-PI copolymer (30k/30k) has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The molar mass Mw* and the functionality f of the stars are two key parameters that control their solubilization in the host copolymer matrix, hence, the microstructures and the C60 organization in the blends. Different regimes of solubilization have been identified as a function of the ratio Mw*/MwPS between the molar mass of the stars and the PS block of the copolymer MwPS. Homogeneous and localized ...