Conformational Asymmetry and Quasicrystal Approximants in Linear Diblock Copolymers

Morgan W. Schulze, Ronald M. Lewis, James H. Lettow, Robert J. Hickey, Timothy M. Gillard, Marc A. Hillmyer, Frank S. Bates

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Small angle x-ray scattering experiments on three model low molar mass diblock copolymer systems containing minority polylactide and majority hydrocarbon blocks demonstrate that conformational asymmetry stabilizes the Frank-Kasper σ phase. Differences in block flexibility compete with space filling at constant density inducing the formation of polyhedral shaped particles that assemble into this low symmetry ordered state with local tetrahedral coordination. These results confirm predictions from self-consistent field theory that establish the origins of symmetry breaking in the ordering of block polymer melts subjected to compositional and conformational asymmetry.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number207801
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume118
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 16 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Physical Society.

MRSEC Support

  • Partial

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Conformational Asymmetry and Quasicrystal Approximants in Linear Diblock Copolymers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this