Polymer Nanowires with Highly Precise Internal Morphology and Topography

Pelras T, Mahon CS, Nonappa, Ikkala O, Gröschel AH, Müllner M

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

The construction of precise soft matter nanostructures in solution presents a challenge. A key focus remains on the rational design of functionalities to achieve the high morphological complexity typically found in biological systems. Advances in controlled polymerizations and self-assembly increasingly allow approaches toward complex hierarchical nanomaterials. By combining tailor-made cylindrical polymer brushes, block copolymers and interpolyelectrolyte complexation-driven self-assembly, we demonstrate a facile construction of uniformly compartmentalized and topographically structured polymeric nanowires in aqueous media. The approach offers a modular avenue in programming the internal morphology of polymer nanowires by varying the block copolymer composition and topology.