Nanoconfinement-Induced β-Phase Formation Inside Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Block Copolymers.

ABSTRACT: The electroactive properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) are a direct consequence of its crystalline phases. Although poorly understood, nanostructuring PVDF in confined geometries can drastically change its crystallization behavior. Therefore, we synthesized a variety of PVDF-based triblock copolymers to gain a better understanding of the melt crystallization and explore how crystallization is affected by the morphology and chemical nature of the amorphous block. Differential scanning calorimetry, small-/wide-angle X-ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy gave us excellent insights into the morphology and the corresponding crystalline phases. We find that crystallization of PVDF inside spherical nanodomains occurs via a homogeneous nucleation mechanism leading to a l

SUBMITTER: Meereboer NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6052937 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature