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Architecture Effects in Complex Spherical Assemblies of (AB)(n)-Type Block Copolymers
Journal article

Architecture Effects in Complex Spherical Assemblies of (AB)(n)-Type Block Copolymers

Stephanie M. Barbon, Jung-Ah Song, Duyu Chen, Cheng Zhang, Joshua Lequieu, Kris T. Delaney, Athina Anastasaki, Manon Rolland, Glenn H. Fredrickson, Morgan W. Bates, …
ACS Macro Letters, v 9(12), pp 1745-1752
01 Nov 2020
PMID: 35653677

Abstract

Science & Technology Physical Sciences Polymer Science
Molecular architecture plays a key role in the self-assembly of block copolymers, but few studies have systematically examined the influence of chain connectivity on tetrahedrally close-packed (TCP) sphere phases. Here, we report a versatile material platform comprising two blocks with substantial conformational asymmetry, A = poly(trifluoroethyl acrylate) and B = poly(dodecyl acrylate), and use it to compare the phase behavior of AB diblocks, ABA triblocks, and (AB)(n) radial star copolymers with n = 3 or 4. Each architecture forms TCP sphere phases at minority A block compositions (f(A) < 0.5), namely, sigma and AlS, but with differences in the location of order-order phase boundaries that are not anticipated by mean-field self-consistent field theory simulations. These results expand the palette of polymer architectures that readily self-assemble into complex TCP structures and suggest important design considerations when targeting specific phases of interest.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Polymer Science
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