PS-PCEMA-PAA

Fig. 7 Schematic illustration of processes involved in the preparation of PS-PCEMA-PAA nanotubes...

In a PHIC chain, the backbone, covered by a corona of hexyl groups, consists of a Unear sequence of imide units. Their counterparts in the PS-PCEMA nanofiber are the cross-linked PCEMA cylindrical core and the PS chains as the corona. Other than the size difference, the PHIC molecule and the PS-PCEMA nanofiber bear a remarkable structural resemblance. If the PCEMA crosslinking density is high, the PtBA chains in a PS-PCEMA-PtBA nanofiber and the PAA chains in a PS-PCEMA-PAA nanotube become trapped inside the cores even if the solvent is good for both PtBA and PAA. Thus, the triblock copolymer nanofibers and nanotubes can be viewed as giant polymer chains as well [18]. 

Fig. 16 Top TEM image of PS-PCEMA-PAA/Fe203 hybrid nanofibers. Bottom Bundling and alignment of the nanofibers in a magnetic field. The arrow indicates the magnetic...

Fig. 19 Processes involved for patterned grafting of PS-PCEMA-PAA nanotubes onto glass plates...

Aside from showing the similarity between the reaction patterns of onedimensional nanostructures and polymer chains, the coupling methods that we have developed should have other applications. They can, for example, be used to make rudimentary nanomechanical devices. Figure 24 shows, for example, a device that can be prepared by attaching three PS-PCEMA-PAA/ y-Pe203 hybrid nanofibers to one microsphere. 

Fig. 9 Structural comparison of a PHIC chain under a magnifying glass top left), a PS-PCEMA nanofiber top right), a PS-PCEMA-PtBA nanofiber bottom left), and a PS-PCEMA nanotube with a PAA-lined core bottom right)...

PCEMA nanofiber, a PS-PCEMA-PtBA nanofiber, and a PS-PCEMA nanotube with a PAA-lined core. 

Figure 10.18 Synthetic strategy of the PS-b-PCEMA-fa-PAA triblock copolymer/y-Fe203 hybrid nanofibers [163].

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