Synthesis and Characterization of Alternating and Random Copolymer Brushes

Alternating free‐radical copolymerization of vinylbenzyl‐ and methacryloyl‐terminated macromonomers in the presence of Lewis acid was applied to the synthesis of prototype copolymer brushes composed of polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide) (PS/PEO) alternating structure. Random copolymer brushes were also prepared by radical copolymerization of both macromonomers in the absence of Lewis acid. It was found from dilute solution properties that both copolymer brushes composed of short aspect ratio formed an ellipsoid‐like single molecule in solution. To discuss the intramolecular phase separation of PS/PEO brushes in solution, we determined the radius of gyration ( R g ) and cross‐sectional radius of gyration ( R g,c ) of copolymer brushes by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) using Guinier's plots in DMF and styrene. We used styrene as a solvent to cancel each other out with the electron density of PS side chains. We made also clear the effect of branching topology on polymer crystallinity to be examined by comparing the copolymer brushes with corresponding linear PEO or PEO‐ block ‐PS block copolymer. magnified image