Sterically Stabilized Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles Enable Convenient Preparation of Suspension Concentrates Comprising Various Agrochemical Actives.

It is well known that sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles can be readily prepared using polymerization-induced self-assembly. Recently, we reported that such nanoparticles can be employed as a dispersant to prepare micron-sized particles of a widely used fungicide (azoxystrobin) via ball milling. In the present study, we examine the effect of varying the nature of the steric stabilizer block, the mean nanoparticle diameter, and the glass transition temperature () of the core-forming block on the particle size and colloidal stability of such azoxystrobin microparticles.

Block Copolymer Nanoparticles are Effective Dispersants for Micrometer-Sized Organic Crystalline Particles.

Well-defined sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles of 29 nm diameter are prepared by RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a dithiobenzoate-capped poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) precursor. These nanoparticles are evaluated as a dispersant for the preparation of organic crystalline microparticles via ball milling. This is exemplified for azoxystrobin, which is a broad-spectrum fungicide that is widely used to protect various food crops.

Bottom-up device fabrication the seeded growth of polymer-based nanowires.

The bottom-up assembly of nanoelectronic devices from molecular building blocks is a target of widespread interest. Herein we demonstrate an seeded growth approach to produce a nanowire-based electrical device. This exploits the chemisorption of block terpolymer-based seed fibres with a thiophene-functionalised corona onto metal electrodes as the initial step.

Poly(3-alkylthiophene)- block-poly(3-alkylselenophene)s: Conjugated Diblock Co-polymers with Atypical Self-Assembly Behavior.

Understanding self-assembly behavior and resulting morphologies in block co-polymer films is an essential aspect of chemistry and materials science. Although the self-assembly of amorphous coil-coil block co-polymers is relatively well understood, that of semicrystalline block co-polymers where each block has distinct crystallization properties remains unclear. Here, we report a detailed study to elucidate the rich self-assembly behavior of conjugated thiophene-selenophene (P3AT- b-P3AS) block co-polymers.

Chemically Addressable Perovskite Nanocrystals for Light-Emitting Applications.

Whereas organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have remarkable potential in the development of optoelectronic materials, their relatively poor chemical and colloidal stability undermines their performance in optoelectronic devices. Herein, this issue is addressed by passivating PNCs with a class of chemically addressable ligands. The robust ligands effectively protect the PNC surfaces, enhance PNC solution processability, and can be chemically addressed by thermally induced crosslinking or radical-induced polymerization.

Three-Dimensional Arylene Diimide Frameworks for Highly Stable Lithium Ion Batteries.

Lithium ion batteries are the best commercial technology to satisfy the energy storage needs of current and emerging applications. However, the use of transition-metal-based cathodes precludes them from being low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally benign, even with recycling programs in place. In this study, we report a highly stable organic material that can be used in place of the transition-metal cathodes.

Patchy Nanofibers from the Thin Film Self-Assembly of a Conjugated Diblock Copolymer.

An unexpected morphology comprising patchy nanofibers can be accessed from the self-assembly of an all-conjugated, polyselenophene-block-polythiophene copolymer. This morphology consists of very small (<10 nm), polythiophene- and polyselenophene-rich domains and is unprecedented for both conjugated polymers and diblock copolymers in general. We propose that the patchy morphology occurs from the enhanced miscibility of the blocks arising from the longer alkyl chains in comparison to similar block copolymers with shorter alkyl chains, which fully phase separate, as well as the difference in rigidity between the polythiophene and polyselenophene blocks.