90. Macromolecule-to-Amphiphile Conversion Process of a Polyoxometalate–Polymer Hybrid and Assembled Hybrid Vesicles
writer：Yu Xiao, Yao-Kun Han, Nan Xia, Min-Biao Hu, Ping Zheng, and Wei Wang
keywords：amphiphiles, polymers, polyoxometalates, self-assembly, vesicles
source：期刊
specific source：CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
Issue time：2012年
We report our findings on the macromolecule-to-amphiphile conversion process of a polyoxometalate–polymer hybrid and the assembled hybrid vesicles formed by aggregation of the hybrid amphiphile. The polyoxometalate–polymer hybrid is composed of a polyoxometalate (POM) cluster, which is covered by five tetrabutylammonium (Bu4N+) countercations, and a polystyrene (PS) chain. Through
a cation-exchange process the Bu4N+ countercations can be replaced by protons to form a hybrid amphiphile composed of a hydrophilic, protonated POM cluster and a hydrophobic PS chain. By implementing a directed onedimensional diffusion and analyzing the diffusion data, we confirmed that the diffusion of solvated protons rather
than macromolecules or aggregates is the key factor controlling the conversion process. Once the giant hybrid amphiphiles were formed, they immediately assembled into kinetically favored vesicular aggregates. During subsequent annealing these vesicular aggregates were transformed into thermodynamically stable vesicular aggregates with a perfect vesicle structure. The success in the preparation of the POMcontaining hybrid vesicles provides us with an opportunity of preparing POM-functionalized vesicles.