Rapid self-assembly of brush block copolymers to photonic crystals.
The reduced chain entanglement of brush polymers over their linear analogs drastically lowers the energetic barriers to reorganization. In this report, we demonstrate the rapid self-assembly of brush block copolymers to nanostructures with photonic bandgaps spanning the entire visible spectrum, from ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR). Linear relationships were observed between the peak wavelengths of reflection and polymer molecular weights. This work enables "bottom-up" fabrication of photonic crystals with application-tailored bandgaps, through synthetic control of the polymer molecular weight and the method of self-assembly. These polymers could be developed into NIR-reflective paints, to combat the "urban heat island effect" due to NIR photon thermalization.
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratories for Chemical Synthesis, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Benjamin R
BR
Sveinbjörnsson
Raymond A
RA
Weitekamp
Garret M
GM
Miyake
Yan
Y
Xia
Harry A
HA
Atwater
Robert H
RH
Grubbs
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D017785:Photons; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers