Hierarchical Structures of Self-Assembled Polypeptoids Revealed by Cryo-TEM

Atomically-defined amphiphilic polypeptoid block copolymers, synthesized via solid-phase synthesis, can self-assemble into diverse well-ordered hierarchical nanostructures. By tuning intra- and intermolecular interactions, we design and control these structures across multiple length scales. Using advancements in cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), we directly image the hierarchical nanostructures, including two dimensional nanosheets and one-dimensional nanofibers, from atomic-level molecular arrangements and crystal motifs to nanoscale morphologies. This atomic-scale imaging reveals how intra- and intermolecular interactions influence chain conformation, lattice parameters, and morphological transformations.