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  • Structural Evolution of Mul...
    Jiang, Tao; Wang, Liquan; Lin, Shaoliang; Lin, Jiaping; Li, Yongliang

    Langmuir, 05/2011, Volume: 27, Issue: 10
    Journal Article

    Using dissipative particle dynamics simulation, structural evolution from concentric multicompartment micelles to raspberry-like multicompartment micelles self-assembled from linear ABC triblock copolymers in selective solvents was investigated. The structural transformation from concentric micelles to raspberry-like micelles can be controlled by changing either the length of B blocks or the solubility of B block. It was found that the structures with B bumps on C surface (B-bump-C) are formed at shorter B block length and the structures with C bumps on B surface (C-bump-B) are formed at relative lower solubility of B blocks. The formation of B-bump-C is entropy-driven, while the formation of C-bump-B is enthalpy-dominated. Furthermore, when the length of C blocks is much lower than that of B blocks, an inner-penetrating vesicle was discovered. The results gained through the simulations provide an insight into the mechanism behind the formation of raspberry-like micelles.