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Asymmetric superstructure formed in a block copolymer via phase separation

Nature Materials volume 6, pages 992–996 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers into well-ordered structures has attracted significant interest over the past decade. An especially attractive application of block-copolymer self-assembly is the formation of isoporous membranes. A major problem in this process is the lack of sufficient long-range order and the difficulty of up-scaling due to the time-consuming preparation steps. Here, we report an innovative and simple method to prepare isoporous membranes with nanometre-sized pores. The combination of the industrially well-established membrane formation method by non-solvent-induced phase separation with the self-assembly of a block copolymer is demonstrated. The result is the creation of an integral asymmetric membrane of a block copolymer with a highly ordered thin layer on top of a non-ordered sponge-like layer. This straightforward and very fast one-step procedure for membrane formation is reported for the first time. The developed membrane has the potential for highly selective separation.

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Figure 1: SEM images of the cross-sectional morphology of the asymmetric PS-b-P4VP diblock-copolymer film at different magnifications.
Figure 2: SEM images of the surface of the asymmetric PS-b-P4VP diblock-copolymer film.
Figure 3: AFM images of the film surface of the asymmetric PS-b-P4VP diblock-copolymer film (1 μm×1 μm).
Figure 4: TEM images of ultrathin sections of the cross-sectional morphology of the asymmetric PS-b-P4VP diblock copolymer embedded in an epoxy resin and stained with iodine.
Figure 5: Schematic diagram of the asymmetric film formation process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank B. Lademann for help in synthesizing the block copolymer, G. Johannsen for help in preparation of the films and M. Schossig and M. Aderhold for the SEM images. The authors are grateful to C. Abetz for the AFM and TEM investigations and A. Boschetti-de-Fierro for some helpful comments. This work was supported by the European Commission (project COMPOSE, contract NMP3-CT-2003-505633).

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  1. Institut für Polymerforschung, GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany

    Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Volker Abetz & Peter F. W. Simon

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  1. Klaus-Viktor Peinemann
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  3. Peter F. W. Simon
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Correspondence to Volker Abetz.

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Peinemann, KV., Abetz, V. & Simon, P. Asymmetric superstructure formed in a block copolymer via phase separation. Nature Mater 6, 992–996 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2038

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