Solvent-assisted formation of nanostrand networks from supramolecular diblock copolymer/surfactant complexes at the air/water interface

We describe a simple manipulation of an asymmetric diblock copolymer, polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine), mixed with 3-pentadecylphenol that generates a dense network of interconnected nanostrands at the air/water interface. This morphology is obtained by compression of the solution immediately after spreading, contrasting with the dot-and-planar morphology obtained by the conventional method, and is attributed to the presence of the solvent that confers sufficient mobility to the system to enable reorganization in response to increased surface pressure. This procedure thus adds a facile yet effective tool for controlling pattern formation at the air/water interface.