Aggregation behaviors of AB-type brush-block-brush amphiphilic copolymers in aqueous media

We have reported the synthesis and dilute-solution properties of poly(diblock macromonomer)s (double-cylinder-type copolymer brushes) by free-radical polymerization of the corresponding diblock macromonomers. We also prepared double-cylinder-type copolymer brushes by anionic one-shot polymerization of AB-type diblock macromonomers. Recently, Matyjaszewski and Muller have also synthesized double-cylinder-type copolymer brushes by the 'grafting from' approach, using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The molecular wires, which are electronic nanodevices, were prepared by forming a linear array of the gold clusters conducting polypyrroles with an internal core of the double-cylinder-type brushes as templates, whereas the outer cylinder parts work as an insulator.