Fusion of micelles of poly(butadiene-block-2-vinylpyridene) and derivatives on different substrates

Surfactants spontaneously form worm-like structures in aqueous solutions by changing the ambient conditions and/or by being adsorbed on different substrates. Vesicle formation has been observed by adding anionic charged surfactants to a cationic charged surfactant solution. In analogy to these systems, shape transitions of so-called crew-cut amphiphiles in organic solvents and after an additional change of solvent have been investigated. The adsorption behaviour of poly(butadiene–block-2-vinylpyridene) on chemically different substrates has been investigated by scanning focus microscopy on different dried surfaces. This study shows that not only the ambient conditions acting in the solution but also the substrates used have a significant influence on the shapes formed. Furthermore, the morphologies in dependency of the chain length have been investigated.