Self-assembled intrinsic nanoscale phase separation in polymers

Abstract

It was thought that stable nanostructures did not exist in the phase separation behaviors of polymers. Now it is demonstrated that strongly correlated chains induced by hydrogen bonding can lead to a new self-assembly: intrinsic nanoscale phase separation. High-density nanorings, nanodiscs and nanospheres exist over large areas in the self-assembly of polymethylmethacrylate and poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) blend films. Their typical size changes from 100 nm to 20 nm, depending on substrate effect and film thickness. The phenomenon that controllable nanoscale self-assembly exists in miscible polymer blends is beyond the conventional understanding of the phase separation behavior. This may open a new way in the design of nanostructured polymers and multifunctional polymers.