Speaker
Description
Inverted block-copolymer phases reverse the usual curvature rule by forming discrete domains composed of the majority components. These novel structures offer promising applications but often remain unstable in simple block-copolymer melts. The emergence and relative stability of inverted phases in binary AB/CD diblock-copolymer blends are studied using self-consistent field theory. The model combines miscible A/C blocks with selective B–D attraction, enabling co-assembly without macroscopic phase separation. The resulting phase diagram exhibits rich ordered behavior, including stable inverted cylindrical and spherical phases. Their stability is primarily governed by chain-length asymmetry and blend composition. Segment-density profiles reveal a key mechanism: short CD chains locally switch from co-surfactants that tune interfacial curvature to fillers that reinforce the BD matrix and reduce packing frustration. These results establish design rules for engineering inverted nanostructures using block-copolymer blends.
| Keyword-1 | Self-Assembly |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | Self-consistent Field Theory |