加拿大多伦多大学Mitchell A. Winnik团度开发了球晶状胶束。 相关研究成果发表在2021年2月24日出版的《德国应用化学》。

通过结晶驱动嵌段共聚物（BCP）自组装的一维（1D）和二维结构可以通过二次自组装形成迷人的层次结构。但通过分层自组装形成的三维结构的例子并不多见。

该文报道了具有两亲性电晕形成块聚二茂铁基二甲基硅烷（BCP）在正癸烷中的种子生长实验，其中透镜状血小板生长为典型的球晶状均匀胶体稳定结构。这些3D物体在外部是球对称的，但在核心附近是不对称的，那里有一个更开放的结构，由叶束状的叶子组成。这些实验最显著的特点是，生长在生长过程的不同阶段会停止，这取决于种子生长步骤中添加了多少单体。

该系统为研究球晶生长提供了一个模型，而球晶生长在不同阶段的实时观测仍然具有挑战性。

附：英文原文

Title: Spherulite‐like Micelles

Author: Shaofei Song, Hang Zhou, Shuyang Ye, Jason Tam, Jane Y. Howe, Ian Manners, Mitchell A. Winnik

Issue&Volume: 2021-02-24

Abstract: One‐dimensional (1D) and 2D structures by crystallization‐driven self‐assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) can form fascinating hierarchical structures through secondary self‐assembly. But examples of 3D structures formed via hierarchical self‐assembly are rare. Here we report seeded growth experiments in decane of a poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) BCP with an amphiphilic corona forming block in which lenticular platelets grow into classic spherulite‐like uniform colloidally stable structures. These 3D objects are spherically symmetric on the exterior, but asymmetric near the core, where there is a more open structure consisting of sheaf‐like leaves. The most remarkable aspect of these experiments is that growth stops at different stages of growth process, depending upon how much unimer is added in the seeded growth step. The system provides a model for studying spherulitic growth where real‐time observations on their growth at different stages remains challenging.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202101177

Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202101177