Controlling the chirality and number of strands of helices self-assembled from achiral block copolymers confined inside a nanopore: a simulation study

Hu, Xiejun; Wang, Zheng; Yin, Yuhua; Jiang, Run; Li, Baohui

doi:10.1039/d1sm00103e

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…[169,171,175,176] The reason can be ascribed to the fact that there was no free energy difference between these two chiral structures, unless a chiral potential field was deliberately applied. [171,174,[177][178][179][180] The exploration on confined assembly of BCPs* and understanding on it lag far behind than the ones on the selfassembly of BCPs* in bulk/films and selective solutions, given the sophistication of BCP* assembly behavior and confining effects. Although there has not been a systematic investigation on the 1D confined assembly of BCPs* yet, it is sensible to expect that a low D value would impact the integrity and thread of the helix* domains.…”

Section: Self-assembly Of Bcps* Under Confinementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chiral transfer‐dictated self‐assembly of chiral block copolymers

Xiong

et al. 2021

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Chiral structures not only exist in nature widely, they also emerge in artificial systems, attracting myriad attentions due to their excellent mechanical, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Self-assembly of chiral block copolymers (BCPs*), where at least one block consists of chiral centers, represents a facile strategy to form helical/spiral/network structures with a controlled chirality. Usually, morphological chirality of BCP* assemblies was closely associated with molecular and conformational chirality of the chiral block. Generally, chiral assemblies arose from molecular chirality of BCPs*, transferring up in the assembly process and dictated the chirality at a higher hierarchical level. In contrast, notwithstanding similar assemblies could be observed from achiral BCPs under certain conditions, both left-and right-handed ones were usually observed simultaneously without a preference. Moreover, unique feature of BCPs* to access to controllable chiral assemblies affords an opportunity to prepare advanced functional materials. Herein, we dedicated a review on assembly of BCPs* into chiral assemblies in bulk/films, selective solvents, and confined spaces. The chiral transfer process in these assembly scenarios were discussed and highlighted as a key contributor to morphological chirality. Functionalities and representative applications of BCP* assemblies were also described, followed by present challenges and future prospects of BCP* self-assembly.

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Section: Self-assembly Of Bcps* Under Confinementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chiral transfer‐dictated self‐assembly of chiral block copolymers

Xiong

et al. 2021

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“…[35] Complementary to adding the chemical components or changing the topologies, [36][37][38][39] introducing geometric confinement is an alternative way to fabricate novel nanostructures. [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Russell and coworkers reported the formation of cylindrical and concentric lamellar structures by the self-assemble of asymmetric and symmetric polystyrene-b-polybutadiene (PS-b-PBD) diblock copolymers confined to cylindrical alumina nanopores. [51] This concentric lamellar structures were also identified in the cylindrical confinement of symmetric polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers, [52] Monte Carlo simulations, [53] and dynamical density functional simulations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence and Stability of Hierarchical Structures under Cylindrical Confinement

Chen

2023

Macro Theory & Simulations

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Focusing on the formation of hierarchical structure under cylindrical confinement, the self‐assembly of A(BC)2B multiblock copolymer of chain length N in a nanopore with size R is studied using the self‐consistent field theory. The hierarchical concentric ring (HCk), hierarchical perforated cylinder (HPk), hierarchical helix (HHk), and even hierarchical disk (HDk) is obtained with different number of mid‐thin layers k via a proposed design principle. The results show that large pore size and χAB favor the hierarchical structure with more k, while χBC prefers hierarchical structure with less k, consistent with the results of hierarchical structure in bulk. By investigating the effect of the volume fraction of the tail A block (fA), the phase transition sequence, HCk → HPk → HHk → HDk is explored, which shares the same transition of multiblock copolymer in bulk with Lk → Gk → Ck → Sk. Finally, the phase diagram with respect to the fA and R is explored, where the stability regime of these hierarchical structures is well understood. The results provide a compelling panacea for the fabrication of hierarchical 3D nanostructures under confinement.

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“…One of the most extensively studied geometrical confinements is cylindrical confinement. In particular, some attractive morphologies have been observed in the self-assembly of cylinder-forming AB diblock copolymer melts under the confinement of nanopores by experiments, − computer simulations, − and theoretical calculations. − A common phase sequence has been identified as the pore diameter increases, i.e., single-cylinder (C 1 ), stacked disks (Dk), single-helix (H 1 ), double-helix (H 2 ), and so on. , The fundamental formation mechanism of these helical structures has been well understood. ,,, The confined system tends to maintain a cylindrical domain with the bulk diameter. As a consequence, the length of the cylindrical domain will increase as the confining nanopore expands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition Paths of Ordered Phases in a Diblock Copolymer under Cylindrical Confinement

Yang,

Dong,

Peng

et al. 2023

Macromolecules

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Controlling the chirality and number of strands of helices self-assembled from achiral block copolymers confined inside a nanopore: a simulation study

Abstract: Achiral block copolymers can self-assemble into helical structures when confined within a cylindrical nanopore. Controlling the chirality and number of strands of helices, however, is challenging. We present our simulation...

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

Chiral transfer‐dictated self‐assembly of chiral block copolymers

Chiral transfer‐dictated self‐assembly of chiral block copolymers

Emergence and Stability of Hierarchical Structures under Cylindrical Confinement

Transition Paths of Ordered Phases in a Diblock Copolymer under Cylindrical Confinement

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