Tuning micellar morphology and rheological behaviour of metallo-supramolecular micellar gels

Well-defined polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butylacrylate) diblock copolymers end-functionalized by a terpyridine ligand (PS-b-PtBA-[) were synthesized by nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) in the presence of an initiator bearing a terpyridine moiety. These materials were then hierarchically organized over two levels of self-assembly to yield metallo-supramolecular micellar gels. The first level of self-assembly is the formation of micelles in the dilute regime. Spherical or cylindrical micelles were obtained depending on the block copolymer composition as well as the method of preparation. The second level of self-assembly was triggered upon addition of Ni(II) ions to the concentrated micellar solutions. Rotational rheometry was used to probe the impact of the micellar morphology and the presence of a co-solvent on the mechanical properties of the gel.