Tunable morphologies from solution self-assembly of diblock copolymers under nanoscale confinement

Abstract

Tunable nanostructure self-assembled from diblock copolymers under nanoscale confinement are investigated by Monte Carlo simulation. In this study, a serial of nanostructures with controllable size or shape are fabricated from self-assembly of hydrophobic or amphiphilic diblock copolymers. The influences of plate surface property, confinement degree, block length ratio of copolymer and solvent property on self-assembled morphologies are systematically examined. The mean-square end-to-end distance and the orientation of polymer chains are calculated, and nanostructure phase diagrams for amphiphilic diblock copolymers are also constructed. This study provides guidance to fabricate tunable nanostructures by solution self-assembly under confinement or in channel.