Self-assembly in casting solutions of block copolymer membranes

DS Marques and U Vainio and NM Chaparro and VM Calo and AR Bezahd and JW Pitera and KV Peinemann and SP Nunes, SOFT MATTER, 9, 5557-5564 (2013).

DOI: 10.1039/c3sm27475f

Membranes with exceptional pore regularity and high porosity were obtained from block copolymer solutions. We demonstrate by small-angle X-ray scattering that the order which gives rise to the pore morphology is already incipient in the casting solution. Hexagonal order was confirmed in PS-b-P4VP 175k-b-65k solutions in DMF/THF/dioxane with concentrations as high as 24 wt%, while lamellar structures were obtained in more concentrated solutions in DMF or DMF/dioxane. The change in order has been understood with the support of dissipative particle dynamic modeling.

Return to Publications page