Synthesis of poly(ionic liquid)-based nano-objects with morphological transitions via RAFT polymerization-induced self-assembly in ethanol

Abstract

There have been few reports on polymerization-induced self-assembly of poly(ionic liquid)-based block copolymers, with limited access to higher order morphologies. Herein, a full range of morphologies including spheres, worms, and vesicles is readily synthesized via RAFT ethanolic dispersion polymerization of 1-butyl-3-(4-vinylbenzyl) imidazolium tetrafluoroborate to generate poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-poly(ionic liquid) nano-objects.