文摘
Herein we demonstrate crystallization-driven self-assembly of isotactic polystyrene (iPS) with high isotacticity and narrow molecular weight distribution and crystallization-induced switching of the morphology of iPS aggregates in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The formation and morphology switching of the self-assembled aggregates of iPS are investigated by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD). The results reveal that cooling DMF solution of iPS promotes iPS chains to self-assemble into spherical aggregates with a gelled core cross-linked by microcrystals, which is surrounded by solvent-swollen corona. Furthermore, crystallization induces the deformation of iPS aggregates from spherical to plate-like or nest-like.