Prof. Dr. Axel Müller

The selective crosslinking of individual domains in block copolymer bulk morphologies rep-resents an elegant strategy to generate nanostructured materials of tunable size and geometry. We demonstrate the preparation of highly periodic nanoporous sheets and core-shell cylinders from a stimuli-responsive triblock terpolymer, polybutadiene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacry-late)-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PB-b-PtBMA-b-PDMAEMA). By blending the terpolymer with different types and amounts of homopolymers, a variety of bulk morphologies is accessible, including rarely found examples such as tetragonally perforated lamellae and double gyroid networks. Selective crosslinking of the PB domains of the gener-ated morphologies followed by sonication-assisted dispersion allows the preparation of well-defined nanostructures in non-selective solvents. Due to the PDMAEMA corona, the crosslinked structures are soluble in aqueous media. The high regularity of the pore diameter in combination with a tunable pore permeability by two external stimuli, pH and temperature, renders such perforated lamellae particularly appealing for potential applications as membrane materials.