Self-assembly of Janus nanoparticles in diblock copolymers

Abstract

Janus nanoparticles with two chemically different compartments have been shown to be a unique class of building blocks in solution. Here we perform mesoscale simulations to explore the self-assembly of Janus nanoparticles with widely varying architectures in diblock copolymers. We demonstrate that the coassembly of these amphiphilic building blocks forms novel and tunable structures at the interfaces of block copolymers, and consequently influences the interface stabilization and structural evolution kinetics. Our simulations suggest that Janus nanoparticle self-assembly at block copolymer interfaces yields considerable control over the creation of polymer nanocomposites with improved shear behavior. In this context, the approach is a viable strategy for creating functional materials with enhanced processing properties.