# In situ monitoring of block copolymer self-assembly through controlled dialysis with light and neutron scattering detection

Source: [In situ monitoring of block copolymer self-assembly through controlled dialysis with light and neutron scattering detection](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa452e1e209131ce916982>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T05:10:08.292Z

Authors: Martin Fauquignon, Lionel Porcar, Annie Br\\^ulet, Jean-Fran\\c{c}ois Le Meins, Olivier Sandre, Jean-Paul Chapel, Marc Schmutz, Christophe Schatz

Published: 2023-09-11T09:27:42.000Z

## Abstract

Solution self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers (BCs) is typically performed by a solvent-to-water exchange. However, BC assemblies are often trapped in metastable states depending on the mixing conditions such as the magnitude and rate of water addition. BC self-assembly can be performed under near thermodynamic control by dialysis, which accounts for a slow and gradual water addition. In this Letter we report the use of a specifically designed dialysis cell to continuously monitor by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering the morphological changes of PDMS-b-PEG BCs self-assemblies during THF-to-water exchange. The complete phase diagrams of near-equilibrium structures can then be established. Spherical micelles first form before evolving to rod-like micelles and vesicles, decreasing the total developed interfacial area of self-assembled structures in response to increasing interfacial energy as the water content increases. The dialysis kinetics can be tailored to the time scale of BC self-assembly by modifying the membrane pore size, which is of interest to study the interplay between thermodynamics and kinetics in self-assembly pathways.

## Recorded benchmark results

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.05333>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2309.05333.pdf>)