Microphase Separation of a Diblock Copolymer Dispersed in Nanorod Arrays Grafted on a Plate: A Monte Carlo Study

Three-dimensional inverse design of nanopatterns with block copolymers and homopolymers

We propose a facile inverse design strategy to generate three-dimensional (3D) nanopatterns by using either block copolymers or a binary homopolymer blend via dissipative particle dynamics simulations. We find that the composition window of block copolymers to form a specific 3D morphology can be expanded when the self-assembly of block copolymers is directed by templates. We also find that a binary homopolymer blend can serve as a better candidate in the inverse templating design, since they have similar performances on recovering the target pattern, with much lower cost. This strategy is proved efficient for fabricating templates with desired topographical configuration, and the inverse design idea sheds lights on better control and design of materials with complex nanopatterns.

Self-assembly of diblock copolymer confined in an array-structure space

The combination of top-down and bottom-up technologies is an effective method to create the novel nanostructures with long range order in the field of advanced materials manufacture. In this work, we employed a polymeric self-consistent field theory to investigate the pattern formation of diblock copolymer in a 2D confinement system designed by filling pillar arrays with various 2D shapes such as squares, rectangles, and triangles. Our simulation shows that in such confinement system, the microphase structure of diblock copolymer strongly depends on the pitch, shape, size, and rotation of the pillar as well as the surface field of confinement. The array structures can not only induce the formation of new phase patterns but also control the location and orientation of pattern structures. Finally, several methods to tune the commensuration and frustration of array-structure confinement are proposed and examined.

Self-assembly of block copolymers on lithographically patterned template with ordered posts

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations are employed to study the self-assembly of block copolymers on a template modified with ordered posts.