Largely Asymmetric Binary Mesocrystals beyond Inorganic Crystals Formed in Linear ABC/ABC Blends

Abstract

Metrics & MoreArticle Recommendations * sı Supporting Information ABSTRACT: "Recasting" crystals at the nanoscale or mesoscale has attracted abiding interest. However, how to obtain novel mesocrystals beyond inorganic crystals remains an unsolved challenging problem in the context of block copolymers. We propose simple binary ABC/ABC blends, of which the two linear ABC triblock copolymers consist of the same B-and C-blocks but unequal A-blocks, to self-assemble into novel binary mesocrystals. The long and short A-blocks coassemble into large A-spheres, while the equal C-blocks can only form small C-spheres, resulting in the formation of binary mesocrystals with highly asymmetric coordination numbers (CNs). Moreover, we have established an assumption rule to systematically construct a huge library of binary crystal lattices without resorting to the prototypes of inorganic crystals. Based on this library, we have theoretically predicted seven stable binary mesocrystal phases, including two novel mesocrystals (FCC-AC 8 and FCC-AC 10 ) that are not found in the prototypes of inorganic crystals. This work offers an effective and inexpensive strategy for the experimental preparation of novel binary mesocrystals and therefore is hopeful to stimulate relevant experimental studies.