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Advancements in nanotechnology and materials science have led to an increased demand for specific material functions, preparation, and design of polymer particles with ordered internal and surface mesostructures. In this work, well‐shaped spheres of poly(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) with four different molecular weights are prepared by 3D confined self‐assembly. After thermal annealing, these spheres exhibit ordered internal and surface mesostructure. Analytical studies suggest that the internal mesoporous structure is formed by the microphase separation properties of the diblock copolymers, while the formation of ordered mesopores on the surface is caused by the decomposition of the PTFEMA domains under electron irradiation. Other microphase‐separated structures, such as cylindrical and lamellar ones, are observed using solution casting and non‐solution casting methods in the same diblock copolymer, indicating that the 3D confined environment induces the formation of internal ordered spherical microphase‐separated structures in the particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optoelectronic properties of π‐conjugated polymers in the film state are known to be strongly affected by their structure. Inspired by this idea, the ordered‐structure‐induced electrochemical post‐functionalization (ePF) of poly(3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene) (P3EHT) films are reported. The structure of P3EHT films can be controlled by changing the solvent used to prepare them. The use of chloroform or chlorobenzene as the solvent results in amorphous P3EHT films, whereas P3EHT films with ordered structures are prepared when tetrahydrofuran is used as the solvent. The amorphous P3EHT films are not electrochemically functionalized. By contrast, ePF of the P3EHT films with an ordered structure is successful. In situ conductance measurements reveals that the successful ePF of the P3EHT films with an ordered structure originates from their greater electrochemical conductivity compared with that of amorphous P3EHT films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly conformable long‐range ordered double gyroid structure with the space group Ia3d is obtained by the self‐assembly of a poly(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(2‐vinyl pyridine) (PTFEMA‐b‐P2VP) diblock copolymer through solution casting. 9 different PTFEMA‐b‐P2VP samples are synthesized, each of which has a different mass fraction to others, with the product containing 47 wt% of PTFEMA exhibiting a double gyroid structure. Analysis of the transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images of this product have revealed that the structural planes of the obtained 3D sample are in good agreement with the typical (211), (110), and (111) planes of the Ia3d space group, which is also supported by small angle X‐ray scattering spectroscopy, therefore confirming that the samples formed a long‐range double gyroid structure over a large area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of an n-type π-conjugated hyperbranched polymer, hyperbranched polypyridine, is described. The polymer is obtained by copolymerization of 2,4,6-tribromopyridine and 2,5-dibromopyridine via chain-growth condensation polymerization catalyzed by Ni(dppp)Cl2. The NMR and fourier transform infrared results indicate the successful introduction of the branching unit into polypyridine by this cross coupling approach. The results of UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry suggest that the introduction of the branching unit contributes to a quick response during electrochemical doping due to the diffusion of dopant enhanced by the hyperbranched structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]