Self-assembled structure of polyrotaxane consisting of β-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer in bulk system

Abstract

Polyrotaxanes consisting of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly-(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer endcapped with bulky trityl groups were synthesized for the first time. Self-assembled structures of the bulk sample cast from water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) based on the crystal structure of β-CD molecules and triblock copolymer microphase separation were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). It was found that microphase-separated structures of a different periodic distance were formed depending on the casting solvent.