Emergence and Stability of Janus-Like Superstructures in an ABCA Linear Tetrablock Copolymer

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01328
• Publication Date: 2020-08-20T16:19:28Z
• Authors: Qiong Xie; Yicheng Qiang; Guojie Zhang; Weihua Li
• Keywords: Gyroid; Counterintuitive; Morphology

Although the general mechanism of block copolymer self-assembly has been well established, behaviors multiblock copolymers are still hard to understand and even quite counterintuitive. Herein, we investigate a relatively simple copolymer, i.e., symmetric ABCA linear tetrablock composed equal B C blocks as two end A blocks, focusing on emergence stability Janus-like superspherical (JS) supercylindrical (JC) morphologies. Intuitively, JS JC superstructures could be formed by this with proper compositions. Our study self-consistent field theory shows that morphology is in certain range γ=χBCχ>1 (χ = χAB χAC), e.g., 1.25 ≲ γ 2.25 for χN 80. Surprisingly, phase located between spherical disordered along increasing γ. Moreover, helical-Janus (HS) predicted compete phase. results indicate higher B/C interfacial energy but lower entropic contribution than HS phase, which Whereas supercylinder not stable, stable supercylinders helices (HC) stacked disks (CB/C) predicted.