Complex coacervate core micelles from iron-based coordination polymers

Complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) from cationic poly(N-methyl-2-vinyl-pyridinium iodide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2MVP41-b-PEO205) and anionic iron coordination polymers are investigated in the present work. Micelle formation is studied by light scattering for both Fe(II)- and Fe(III)-containing C3Ms. At the stoichiometric charge ratio, both Fe(II)-C3Ms and Fe(III)-C3Ms are stable for at least 1 week at room temperature. Excess of iron coordination polymers has almost no effect on the formed Fe(II)-C3Ms and Fe(III)-C3Ms, whereas excess of P2MVP41-b-PEO205 copolymers in the solution can dissociate the formed micelles. Upon increasing salt concentration, the scattering intensity decreases. This decrease is due to both a decrease in the number of micelles (or an increase in CMC) and a decrease in aggregation number. The salt dependence of the CMC and the aggregation number is explained using a scaling argument for C3M formation. Compared with Fe(II)-C3Ms, Fe(III)-C3Ms have a lower CMC and a higher stability against dissociation by added salt.