Synthesis and visualization of molecular brush--brush based hierarchically branched structures

An atom transfer radical polymerization-based sequential "graft-from" approach was developed to synthesize molecular brush- on -brush (MB o B)-based hierarchically branched polymers with readily tunable backbone grafting density, lengths of backbone and primary/secondary side chains, and monomer type. The hierarchically branched structure was visualized, and the stability of the giant MB o B macromolecules was studied by atomic force microscopy. The robust approach enabled the versatile combination of chemical functionality and MB o B structure. An atom transfer radical polymerization-mediated sequential "graft-from" approach was developed to synthesize molecular brush- on -brush (MB o B)-based hierarchically branched polymers with readily tunable structural parameters.