POS2-0315
Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Glucose-Derived High-χ Diblock Copolymers with Tuneable Nanoscale Morphologies
Topic
S2. High-End Characterization/Polymer Physics/Properties
When and Where
Sep 29, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Hae Jung SON
Boseok KANG
Presenter(s)
Jiwon Kim (KAIST)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
High-χ block copolymers microphase-separate at low molecular weights, enabling nanoscale morphologies approaching sub-10 nm. Saccharide-derived glycopolymers are promising high-χ blocks whose intrinsically abundant hydroxyl groups enhance incompatibility with hydrocarbon segments. Here, glucose-derived glycopolymer-b-polystyrene diblock copolymers with protected/deprotected hydroxyl groups were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) confirmed ordered microdomains. Protected copolymers formed well-defined ~10 nm morphologies, indicating sufficient segregation before deprotection. Temperature-resolved SAXS probed order-disorder transition and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ). Deprotected copolymers showed larger domain spacings, stronger higher-order reflections, and stable ordering at high temperatures. These results suggest that deprotection modulates domain spacing and thermal ordering.
