Preparation and morphologies of shell cross-linked micelles based on commercial poly(styrene-block-ethylene-co-butene-block-styrene)

Abstract

Chloromethyl groups were introduced into the polystyrene (PS) blocks of hydrogenated poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) (SEBS) via Friedel-Crafts reaction. The product (SEBS-CH2Cl) formed spherical micelles with PS corona and hydrogenated PB core in THF/ethanol (10/9, v/v). Then, the polystyrene corona carrying CH2Cl groups was cross-linked by amination with 1.6-hexanediamine as a cross linker. The shell cross-linked micelles showed spherical core-shell structure and were stable in solution, which was verified by DLS in solution and by TEM in the solid state.