Semi-Fluorinated Di and Triblock Copolymer Nano-Objects Prepared via RAFT Alcoholic Dispersion Polymerization (PISA)

A set of well-defined amphiphilic, semi-fluorinated di and triblock copolymers were synthesized via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) under alcoholic dispersion polymerization conditions. This study investigates the influence of the length, nature and position of the solvophobic semi-fluorinated block. A poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) was used as the stabilizing block to prepare the di and tri block copolymer nano-objects via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled dispersion polymerization at 70 °C in ethanol. Benzylmethacrylate (BzMA) and semi-fluorinated methacrylates and acrylates with 7 (heptafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFBMA)), 13 (heneicosafluorododecyl methacrylate (HCFDDMA)) and 21 (tridecafluorooctyl acrylate (TDFOA)) fluorine atoms were used as monomers for the core-forming blocks. The RAFT polymerization of these semi-fluorinated monomers was monitored by SEC and 1H NMR. The evolution of the self-assembled morphologies was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results demonstrate that the order of the blocks and the number of fluorine atoms influence the microphase segregation of the core-forming blocks and the final morphology of the nano-objects.