Issue 5, 2017

Inverting the design path for self-assembled block copolymers

Abstract

Recent success of inverse design methodologies in the realm of self-assembled materials has allowed us to envision an inverse path of discovery where we go from a desired target function to building blocks. In this review we examine recent advances of such inverse design methods in soft materials containing block copolymers, colloids, or DNA. By combining well-developed theoretical models with advanced inverse search algorithms, the design of such systems has been dramatically enhanced over the past decade. Advantages and disadvantages of the most prominent inverse search algorithms are discussed in the context of block copolymer directed self-assembly inverse design. The success of these methodologies in such systems shows great promise for the future of self-assembling materials, particularly for applications where the desired structure and properties of the system needed for a functional device are known.

Graphical abstract: Inverting the design path for self-assembled block copolymers

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
22 Jul 2017
Accepted
09 Oct 2017
First published
09 Oct 2017

Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2017,2, 539-548

Inverting the design path for self-assembled block copolymers

K. R. Gadelrab, A. F. Hannon, C. A. Ross and A. Alexander-Katz, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2017, 2, 539 DOI: 10.1039/C7ME00062F

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