Higher Levels of Self-Assembly of Ionic Amphiphilic Copolymers: Strategies Based on Multiple Molecular Interactions (SONS-AMPHI)

Higher Levels of Self-Assembly of Ionic Amphiphilic Copolymers: Strategies Based on Multiple Molecular Interactions (SONS-AMPHI)

Abstract

We propose to study the hierarchical self-assembly of ionic/non-ionic amphiphilic mac-romolecules driven by multiple types of interactions both in aqueous solution and at interfaces. The spectrum of molecular architectures will range from simple linear struc-tures (e.g., block copolymers) to branched structures (e.g. graft copolymers) and more complex nanoparticles (core-shell and Janus type).We aim to understand how self-organization, the resulting structures and interfacial patterns are controlled by the inter-play of macromolecular architecture of building blocks with different types and ranges of competing interactions, particularly hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Our ultimate goal is to create systems that can self-assemble in a hierarchical way. The present project will explore possible approaches in this challenging direction. The ex-pertise of the participating groups (advanced synthetic techniques, a wide range of experimental characterization methods and the combination of analytical and computa-tional theoretical modeling) is strongly complementary and their coordinated efforts will lead to a new level of understanding of self-organization of amphiphilic macromolecular systems

List of Partners

  • Professor Axel Müller (Project Leader)
    Universität Bayreuth, Germany

  • Professor Matthias Ballauff (Principal Investigator)
    Physikalische Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth, Germany

  • Professor Martinus Abraham Cohen Stuart (Principal Investigator)Wageningen University, The Netherlands

  • Dr. Mohamed Daoud (Principal Investigator)
    CEA-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  • Professor Gerhard Findenegg (Principal Investigator)Technische Universität Berlin, Germany

  • Dr. Avraham Halperin (Principal Investigator)DRFMC/SI3M, CEA-Grenoble, France

  • DaDr. Günter Reiter (Associated Group)
    Institut de Chimie des Surfaces et Interfaces, CNRS, Mulhouse, France

  • Dr. Helmut Schlaad (Principal Investigator)
    Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPI-KGF), Golm, Germany

  • Dr. Claudine Williams (Associated Group)Collège de France, CNRS, Paris, France