In situ SAXS studies of a upper critical solution temperature transition of self-assembled diblock copolymers in aqueous solutions

We request three days of synchrotron beam-time to rigorously characterise a new type of upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-like thermal transition recently observed for poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)-poly(2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate) [PGMA-PHBMA] worms, which undergo a worm-to-sphere transition on heating in aqueous solution. In addition to temperature ramp studies, temperature jump experiments will be performed to monitor the kinetics of this change in copolymer morphology, which leads to in situ degelation in semi-concentrated solution. Based on our track record in this field, a high-profile publication is anticipated from these synchrotron SAXS experiments.