Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly of Micelles Observed by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: In this paper, we describe the use of liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM) for inducing and imaging the formation of spherical micelles from amphiphilic block copolymers. Within the irradiated region of the liquid cell, diblock copolymers were produced which self-assembled, yielding a targeted spherical micellar phase via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). Critically, we demonstrate that nanoparticle formation can be visualized in situ and that in the presence of excess monomer, nanoparticle growth occurs to yield sizes and morphologies consistent with standard PISA conditions. Experiments were enabled by employing automated LCTEM sample preparation and by analyzing LCTEM data with multi-object tracking algorithms designed for the detection of low-contrast materials.
Source: ACS Central Science
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: National Science Foundation, W. M. Keck Foundation, Northwestern University, Agouron Institute, National Institutes of Health, University of California, San Diego, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate, Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Division of Materials Research, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office
Awards: G102541785, G1169090945, G1276186940, G205123881, G2400897454, G336680401, G4285583887, G4289625387, G438066039, MRSEC: Center for Multifunctional Materials, G4912152698, G51987598, G5218300437, G541550329, NNCI: Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G6262914324, G712509569, G7160922193, Understanding and Monitoring Nanoparticle Self-Assembly Processes with Online Transmission Electron Microscopic Data, G7791925507, G7864770065, G8073314406, G8230932042
OpenAlex ID: W2800577867