What Morphologies Do We Want? – TEM Images from Dilute Diblock Copolymer Solutions
✍ Scribed by Hong Zhao; Qianjin Chen; Liangzhi Hong; Lei Zhao; Jianfang Wang; Chi Wu
- Book ID
- 102939458
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 883 KB
- Volume
- 212
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1022-1352
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The formation of various exotic morphologies of block copolymers in dilute solutions has often been claimed on the basis of TEM imaging. Do they really exist in solutions or are they just some kinetically frozen structures arising from TEM sample preparation? It is shown that different morphologies are formed due to a competition between different time scales. More and more people are realizing that it is necessary to use cryo‐TEM to ascertain a novel morphology in polymer solutions, but not everyone is able to access a modern cryo‐TEM. Our current study serves as an alarm to those who are interested in morphologies in block copolymer solutions that it is necessary to combine different methods, such as LLS, freeze‐drying, and TEM, in their studies.
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