Formation of rodlike nanocylinders by binding of prototype copolymer brushes with polyelectrolytes

Amphiphilic prototype copolymer brushes were synthesized by alternating free-radical copolymerisation of vinylbenzyl-terminated polystyrene (PS-VB) with methacryloyl-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-MC)/SnCl4 complex. Such copolymer brushes were molecularly dissolved in a dilute solution and took geometrically anisotropic conformations such as cylinders with increasing aspect ratio. These brushes could be converted into sulfonated PS (PSS)/PEO (anionic/non-ionic polyelectrolyte) brushes by sulfonation. We studied the binding behaviour of PSS/PEO brushes to linear cationic quaternised poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VPQ) in an aqueous solution. As a result, rod-shaped prototype brush aggregate/P4VPQ complexes were formed, since PSS/PEO brushes strongly bind with P4VPQ due to electrostatic interaction.