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Surface and interfacial aggregation states in thin films of a polystyrene/polyrotaxane blend

Polymer Journal volume 57, pages 737–743 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Polyrotaxane (PR) exhibits unique mechanical properties due to the ability of its cyclic molecules to move or slide along the axial chain. Thus, to design advanced polymer-based composite materials and organic devices, it is crucial to better understand the aggregation states at the surface and substrate interface in polymer films containing PR. Here, we report the depth profile of PR along the direction normal to the interface when it is mixed with polystyrene (PS). Neutron reflectivity and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that PS and PR segregated at the surface and substrate interface, respectively, and that the extent of segregation depended on the length of PS. The surface enrichment of PS is driven by both energy and entropy, whereas the enrichment of PR at the substrate interface is energy driven.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by JST-Mirai Program Grant Number JPMJMI18A2, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Characterization Laboratory, Science & Innovation Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan

    Miki Taguchi & Satoru Ozawa

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Miki Taguchi, Yuma Morimitsu & Keiji Tanaka

  3. Neutron Science and Technology Center, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society, Ibaraki, Japan

    Noboru Miyata & Tsukasa Miyazaki

  4. Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan

    Hiroyuki Aoki

  5. Materials and Life Science Division, J-PARC Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki, Japan

    Hiroyuki Aoki

  6. Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Ryuichi Hasegawa

  7. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Daisuke Kawaguchi

  8. Center for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Satoru Yamamoto & Keiji Tanaka

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  1. Miki Taguchi
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Taguchi, M., Miyata, N., Miyazaki, T. et al. Surface and interfacial aggregation states in thin films of a polystyrene/polyrotaxane blend. Polym J 57, 737–743 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-025-01030-y

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