Formation of Vesicular Morphologies via Polymerization Induced Self-Assembly and Re-Organization

A facile and feasible strategy for the preparation of vesicular morphologies has been developed using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymerization of styrene has been performed in a selected solvent, methanol, using S-1-dodecyl-S-(alpha,alpha'-dimethyl-alpha ''-acetic acid)trithiocarbonate (TC)-terminated poly (4-vinylpyridine) as chain transfer agent and stabilizer. Various morphologies including spherical vesicles, nanotubes, and compound vesicles with different shapes are obtained by changing the feed ratios and reaction conditions. The final nanostructural materials are formed through formation of the block copolymers, self-assembly, and re-organization of the morphology in a one-pot polymerization. The latter two are induced by the propagation of PS blocks. The preparation of nanostructural materials can be performed at a concentration higher than 0.5 g . mL(-1), thus this method offers a practical approach to prepare nanostructural materials on a large scale.