Micelle shape transitions in block copolymer/homopolymer blends: comparison of self-consistent field theory with experiment

TL;DR

This paper uses self-consistent field theory to predict shape transitions in block copolymer/homopolymer blends and compares these predictions with experimental data, showing good agreement and highlighting the theory's detailed insights.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that self-consistent field theory can accurately model shape transitions in block copolymer/homopolymer blends and compares well with experimental observations.

Findings

Good agreement between SCFT predictions and experiments

Cylindrical and lamellar structures are sometimes overestimated by SCFT

SCFT provides detailed insights into self-assembly processes

Abstract

Diblock copolymers blended with homopolymer may self-assemble into spherical, cylindrical or lamellar aggregates. Transitions between these structures may be driven by varying the homopolymer molecular weight or the molecular weight or composition of the diblock. Using self-consistent field theory (SCFT), we reproduce these effects. Our results are compared with X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy measurements by Kinning, Winey and Thomas and good agreement is found, although the tendency to form cylindrical and lamellar structures is sometimes overestimated due to our neglect of edge effects due to the finite size of these aggregates. Our results demonstrate that self-consistent field theory can provide detailed information on the self-assembly of isolated block copolymer aggregates.