Abstract
Synthesis and solution morphologies of four new heteroarm star polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) were studied. As the water content increased, a morphological transformation of heteroarm PS 4 -P4VP 4 from spheres to cylinders, vesicles, and large compound vesicles was observed. The morphology of PS 4 -P4VP 4 in the solvent mixture of DMF/water or 1,4-dioxane/ water was spherical, but changed to large compound micelles in THF/water. As the P4VP molar ratio decreased, the morphology changed from spherical mixed with cylindrical to vesicles, giant vesicles, and then to LCMs. The present study demonstrated the formation of multiple morphologies through manipulating solvent polarity and block ratio in dilute solution. © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.