Synthesis of CO2-Based Block Copolymers via Chain Transfer Polymerization Using Macroinitiators: Activity, Blocking Efficiency, and Nanostructure Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2018 American Chemical Society. Immortal copolymerization of epoxides/CO2 using macro-chain-transfer agent (macro-CTA) is a useful method to prepare CO2-based block copolymers for manufacturing high value-added materials. Despite a variety of CO2-based block copolymers that have been reported using distinct macro-CTAs, issues including catalytic activity and blocking efficiency for the immortal polymerization remain superficially understood. Here, we systematically studied the reaction activity and blocking efficiency by using various macro-CTAs (including PPG, PEG, and PS) in the presence of two classical catalyst systems ((BDI)ZnOAc and SalenCoTFA/PPN-TFA). By analysis of the gel permeation chromatograms via mathematical deconvolution, it comes to a conclusion that the size, nature, and ratio of [macro-CTA]/[Cat.] strongly influence the catalytic activity of the reaction and blocking efficiency for the resultant block copolymers. Thin film self-assembly of PS/PPC block copolymers was investigated, and the results were analyzed by SEM to ascertain the impact of blocking efficiency on nanoassembly.

published proceedings

  • MACROMOLECULES

author list (cited authors)

  • Zhang, Y., Yang, G., Wang, Y., Lu, X., Wu, G., Zhang, Z., ... Xu, Z.

citation count

  • 25

complete list of authors

  • Zhang, Yao-Yao||Yang, Guan-Wen||Wang, Yanyan||Lu, Xin-Yu||Wu, Guang-Peng||Zhang, Ze-Sheng||Wang, Kai||Zhang, Ruo-Yu||Nealey, Paul F||Darensbourg, Donald J||Xu, Zhi-Kang

publication date

  • February 2018