Unconventional microdomains of block copolymers

Abstract

AbstractBlock copolymers (BCPs) have attracted significant interest due to their ability to form various nanostructures, including lamellae, cylinders, gyroids, and spheres. But these nanostructures are only observed for limited range of the volume fraction of one block. Namely, lamellar microdomains are observed for symmetric volume fraction, whereas spherical microdomains are found for highly asymmetric volume fraction. To increase the potential applications of these nanostructures for next‐generation lithography, advanced optical materials, and high‐performance membranes, one should have these nanostructures beyond the limitation of the volume fraction. During the past decades, many directions, such as blends of two BCPs, design of complex chain architecture of BCP and introduction of favorable interactions between block components, have been suggested to greatly change the phase boundaries of conventional nanostructures. In this review, we focus on unconventional nanostructures, such as highly asymmetric lamellae, inverted cylinders and gyroids, and spherical microdomains at nearly symmetric volume fraction.