Hierarchical Self-Assembly and Dynamics of a Miktoarm StarchimeraComposed of Poly(γ-benzyl- l -glutamate), Polystyrene, and Polyisoprene

The hierarchical self-assembly at the submicrometer, nanometer and α-helical length scales has been studied in a miktoarm star rod−coil chimera composed of poly(γ-benzyl- l -glutamate) (PBLG), polystyrene, and polyisoprene blocks by X-ray scattering, solid state NMR, and transmission electron microscopy. The propensity of the rod block toward α-helices that are further hexagonally packed gives rise to pure PBLG domains and induces the partial mixing of the two amorphous blocks. These structural results were confirmed by independent dynamic probes at the segmental and α-helical level by NMR and dielectric spectroscopy, respectively.