Tailoring Charged Block Copolymer Architecture for Performance

Abstract

Charged block copolymers (BCPs) find use in numerous applications spanning from gene delivery to electromechanical transducers. Recent advances in polymer synthesis have provided researchers with the necessary tools to study the properties of a wide variety of BCPs bearing cationic and anionic substituents. Controlling the architecture of these charged BCPs plays a key role in tailoring their performances in the desired application. Likewise, the polymer morphology significantly affects ion transport and thermomechanical properties of the charged BCP. This article aims to compare the structure–property relationships in charged BCPs across a variety of different polymer architectures including linear, branched, segmented, and multiply charged BCPs with a focus on tailoring properties for specific applications. Linear BCPs comprise of diblock, triblock, and multiblock copolymers. Diblocks frequently serve as micelles for drug delivery while triblocks, multiblocks, and segmented BCPs act as ion exchange membranes for transducers and fuel cells. The section on branched BCPs discusses polymer brushes, stars, micelles, and cross‐linked networks. The final section describes synthetic routes toward synthesizing multiply charged monomers and polymers while also emphasizing the challenges and benefits associated with these materials.