Structural properties of self-assembled polymeric aggregates in aqueous solutions

Scattering experiments by X-ray and neutrons have proven to be important techniques to unveil the thermodynamics and the structural characteristics of self-assembled block copolymer systems in the melt as well as in selective solutions. The present Review describes briefly experimental details of the small-angle scattering technique, including the use of in situ auxiliary devised and procedures for data analysis. The use of scattering techniques is exemplified through a number of experimental examples on aqueous block copolymer systems like the PEO/PPO-based Pluronics, which associate into micellar aggregates of various form and size, depending on thermodynamic parameters. The intermicellar interactions are also discussed, and shown to be the basis for ordered colloidal-like structures on the nanometer length-scale, including classical cubic, hexagonal and lamellar ordered phases and network structures.