Styrene-ferrocenyldimethylsilane-methyl methacrylate triblock copolymers: Synthesis and phase morphology

Triblock copolymers were synthesized from styrene (S), dimethylsilaferrocenophane (FS), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) via sequential anionic polymerization, taking advantage of the dimethylsilacyclobutane-mediated endcapping of the living PS-b-PFS precursors. Well-defined materials were obtained, having molecular weights of around 100 000 g (.) mol(-1) and poly-dispersity indices of below 1.1. First investigations of the microphase behavior show that the materials self-organize in bulk morphologies where PMMA is the matrix while PS forms either spheres or cylinders. The central short PFS block forms either droplets or cylinders, which are placed at the surface of the PS domains.