Data for Microphase separation of highly amphiphilic, low N polymers by photoinduced copper-mediated polymerization, achieving sub-2 nm domains at half-pitch

An alkyl halide initiator with a fluorocarbon chain was utilized as a first ‘A block’ in the synthesis of low molecular weight polymers (1400–4300 g mol−1) using photoinduced Cu(II)-mediated polymerization allowing for very narrow dispersity.

Poly(tert-butyl acrylate) was synthesized and subsequently deprotected to give very low degrees of polymerization (N), amphiphilic polymers with low dispersity (Đ = 1.06–1.13). By exploiting the high driving force for demixing and the well-defined ‘block’ sizes, we are able to control the nanostructure in terms of domain size (down to 3.4 nm full-pitch) and morphology. This work demonstrates the simple and highly controlled synthesis of polymers to push the boundaries of the smallest achievable domain sizes obtained from polymer self-assembly.<br><br>The files detailing experimental results are organised by technique used for the characterisation of the final products in folders: DSC: differential scanning calorimetry GPC-SEC: Gel permeation chromatography-size exclusion chromatography MALDI: Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance SAXS: small-angle x-ray scattering TEM: transmission electron microscopy --> Software needed to open files according to technique used: for NMR files: ACD-LABS for MALDI-ToF files: Excel, Bruker Data Analysis for GPC files: Agilent GPC for SAXS: EDF Viewer (Foxtrot) for DSC: Excel for TEM: DigitalMicrograph (GMS 3)