Kinetics of Block Copolymer Micelles Formed in Solution

Abstract

We overview both theoretical and experimental studies on the following kinetics of block copolymer micelles formed in a selective solvent reported so far: 1) the exchange kinetics of block copolymer chains among micelles was investigated by time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering for deuterated block copolymer micelles mixed with corresponding non-labeled micelles; 2) the growth of the micelles after a temperature jump was studied by time-resolved light scattering; 3) the nucleation-growth kinetics of the block copolymer micelles in solution was investigated by light and small-angle X-ray scattering using a stopped flow apparatus; 4) the morphology transition kinetics from cylindrical micelles to spherical micelles of block copolymers was studied by transmittance electron microscopy and time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering.