Quantify the contribution of chain length heterogeneity on block copolymer self-assembly
Yanxiao Sun,
Rui Tan,
Zhuang Ma,
Dongdong Zhou,
Jinbin Li,
Deyu Kong,
Xue-Hui Dong
Affiliations
Yanxiao Sun
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Rui Tan
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Zhuang Ma
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Dongdong Zhou
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Jinbin Li
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Deyu Kong
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Xue-Hui Dong
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Corresponding author at: South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
This work quantitatively explores the effect of chain length heterogeneity on self-assembly behaviors of block copolymer, focusing on the narrow distribution region. A library of discrete diblock copolymers consisting of oligo dimethylsiloxane (oDMS) and oligo lactic acid (oLA) blocks were modularly prepared with one monomer difference in composition, which form highly ordered nanostructures at room temperature. The molecular weight distribution of the oLA block was then precisely modulated through a reconstruction approach, achieving an absolute control on chain length heterogeneity. By meticulously tuning the breadth and symmetry of the distribution profile, the lattice dimension of the assembled nanostructure significantly expands, while no appreciable difference on the phase stability was observed. This work provides an explicit access to block copolymers with narrow dispersity that are not possible through conventional chemical approach, revealing the critical contribution of dispersity on self-assembly and bridging the existing gaps between experiments and theories.
