LAUSR

Supramolecular two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials from block copolymers have received great interest for their unique structure and properties. Here, we report the formation of ultrathin nanosheets from self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(N-(2-phenylethyl)glycine) (PEG-b-PNPE) diblock copolymers, which contain rigid crystallizable polypeptoid segment. The PEG-b-PNPE copolymers were synthesized via ring opening polymerization (ROP). The obtained PEG-b-PNPE diblock copolymers can spontaneously form highly ordered structures in PEG selective solvents such as water and methanol. The copolymers with short PNPE segment can directly form nanosheets in water, and the obtained 2D nanosheets have a uniform thickness of 4–5 nm. In contrast, the copolymers with relatively long PNPE segment can only assemble into nanosheets with the assistance of methanol. It is proposed that the crystallization and π–π stacking of PNPE blocks play critical roles in the formation of the nanosheet as suggested by ...