Self-assembly in casting solutions of block copolymer membranes

Debora S. Marques, Ulla Vainio, Nicolas Moreno Chaparro, Victor M. Calo, Ali Reza Bezahd, Jed W. Pitera, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Suzana Pereira Nunes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

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. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5557
JournalSoft Matter
Volume9
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: We thank the German Synchrotron (DESY) for the beam time. The work was supported by the KAUST Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Collaborative Award, "Visualization and Pore Tuning of Asymmetric Membranes" and KAUST-IBM Program "Simulation of pore formation in membranes by self-assembly". We also thank N. Pradeep and M. Karunakaran for their previous work on this topic and help in the initial stage of membrane preparation.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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