Figure 4. Complex superstructures by hierarchical self-assembly.

(a) Schematic depiction of the coordination-driven self-assembly process. Red, pink and purple blocks in schematics correspond to PFS-b-PDMS, BCP^P and Pd-coordinated BCP^P, respectively. TEM images of A–B–A triblock co-micelles (L_n=215 nm, L_w=220 nm, L_w/L_n=1.03) after coordination of Pd₂(dba)₃ (0.4 equiv. Pd(0)) at a micelle concentration of 1 mg ml⁻¹ to favour longer multicompartment chains (b) and after dilution to 0.1 mg ml⁻¹ (c). (d,e) TEM images of branched nanostructures 24 h after the addition of PFS₆₃-b-PDMS₅₁₃ (denoted by red bracket in inset) to a solution of linear coordinated fibres (denoted by purple bracket in inset). A schematic representation of the hairy rod-like superstructures is shown in e. Scale bars correspond to 1,000 nm in main images and 200 nm in inset.