Nanostructure of Ionic Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Monolayer at Air / Water Interface
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Amphiphilic diblock copolymers, which have hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains, self-assemble to form a monolayer at the air / water interface and a micelle in selective solvents. The diblock copolymer monolayer system is of great importance and interest from the scientific and technological points of view. The relationship between the fundamental molecule structure and properties, such as length and stiffness of each chain, hydrophilicity–hydrophobicity balance, and the nanostructure of monolayer formed, is an important aspect in establishing a tailor-made polymer assembly at the surface and interface. Furthermore, the hydrophilic chain in the polymer monolayer is an excellent model system of the “polymer brush,” which is useful in surface modification, colloid stabilization, etc.