title: Selectivity- and size-induced segregation of molecular and nanoscale species in microphase-ordered triblock copolymers.
abstract: Microphase-ordered block copolymers serve as model systems to elucidate the potential of molecular self-assembly and organic templates to fabricate functionalized polymeric materials. Both aspects are related to the incorporation of secondary species such as low-molar-mass compounds or nanoparticles within the copolymer matrices. Since the resulting properties of such functionalized copolymers critically depend on the morphology of the blend or composite, the nonrandom distribution of such inclusions within the copolymer matrix must be understood. Using a self-consistent field theoretical approach, we quantitatively evaluate the segregation and interfacial excess of low-molar-mass and nanoscale species in ordered triblock copolymers as functions of block selectivity and inclusion size. The predictions are found to agree with the morphology observed in a model triblock copolymer/nanoparticle composite, thereby demonstrating the generality of this approach. Our results suggest a wide correspondence in the structure-forming effect of molecular and nanoscale inclusions that will have implications in the design and processing of functional nanostructured polymers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695,USA. rich_spontak@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Spontak
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: Michelle K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Arjun S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hamersky
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samseth
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bockstaller
authors.forename: Kim Ø
authors.initials: KØ
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents