Light-Responsive, Shape-Switchable Block Copolymer Particles

A robust strategy is developed for preparing light-responsive block copolymer (BCP) particles in which shape and color can be actively controlled with high spatial and temporal resolution. The key to achieving light-responsive shape transitions of BCP particles is the design and synthesis of surfact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 141; no. 38; pp. 15348 - 15355
Main Authors Lee, Junhyuk, Ku, Kang Hee, Kim, Jinwoo, Lee, Young Jun, Jang, Se Gyu, Kim, Bumjoon J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 25.09.2019
Amer Chemical Soc
Subjects
Chemistry
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
NANOPARTICLES
EVOLUTION
VESICLES
POLYMER
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Summary:A robust strategy is developed for preparing light-responsive block copolymer (BCP) particles in which shape and color can be actively controlled with high spatial and temporal resolution. The key to achieving light-responsive shape transitions of BCP particles is the design and synthesis of surfactants containing light-active groups (i.e., nitrobenzyl esters and coumarin esters) that modulate the amphiphilicity and interfacial activity of the surfactants in response to light of a specific wavelength. These light-induced changes in surfactant structure modify the surface and wetting properties of BCP particles, affording both shape and morphological transitions of the particles, for example from spheres with an onion-like inner morphology to prolate or oblate ellipsoids with axially stacked nanostructures. In particular, wavelength-selective shape transformation of the BCP particles can be achieved with a mixture of two light-active surfactants that respond to different wavelengths of light (i.e., 254 and 420 nm). Through the use of light-emitting, photoresponsive surfactants, light-induced changes in both color and shape are further demonstrated. Finally, to demonstrate the potential of the light-triggered shape control of BCP particles in patterning features with microscale resolution, the shape-switchable BCP particles are successfully integrated into a patterned, free-standing hydrogel film, which can be used as a portable, high-resolution display.
ISSN:0002-7863
1520-5126
DOI:10.1021/jacs.9b07755