Issue 5, 2017

Beyond native block copolymer morphologies

Abstract

Block copolymers are a well-studied and canonical self-assembly paradigm. Despite active research, new methods are continually emerging that allow the formation of yet more diverse and complex morphologies. In this review, we analyze and comment on the state-of-the-art with respect to exploiting block copolymers in order to form ‘non-native’ morphologies; that is, structures that deviate from the bulk equilibrium morphologies observed in the simplest block copolymer systems. The range of reviewed strategies can be organized with respect to where the final structural information is encoded. Self-assembly involves intrinsic encoding within the molecules themselves, while external fields or templates can be used to externally encode a desired structure. Hybrid strategies, which exploit the responsiveness of self-assembly but control it through external forces or process history, are particularly promising.

Graphical abstract: Beyond native block copolymer morphologies

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
01 Aug 2017
Accepted
13 Sep 2017
First published
20 Sep 2017

Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2017,2, 518-538

Beyond native block copolymer morphologies

G. S. Doerk and K. G. Yager, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2017, 2, 518 DOI: 10.1039/C7ME00069C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements