Reconformation and Metallization of Unimolecular Micelles in Controlled Environment

Abstract

Unimolecular micelles constituted from the star-shaped PS7−P2VP7 polysterene/poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymer single molecules were studied with molecular resolution using AFM. In selective solvent the unimers show core−shell structures with very pronounced segregation into the collapsed core and the extended shell formed by stretched polymer arms of P2VP and PS in water and toluene, respectively. Metallization of P2VP arms of the copolymer leads to the organic−inorganic nanocomposite with 1−3 nm in diameter palladium clusters localized in the outer shell of unimers, forming starlike structures with metallized arms and improving the contrast to resolve the fine molecular morphology.