期刊名称:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN:0027-8424
电子版ISSN:1091-6490
出版年度:2020
卷号:117
期号:35
页码:21070-21078
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2010284117
出版社:The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要:In-plane mesopatterns derived from block-copolymer (BCP) micro-phase segregation in thin films have attracted much interest in practical applications as well as fundamental research programs. However, phase segregation along the film-normal direction has been less studied. Here, we describe a strategy to concurrently, yet independently, control in-plane micro-phase and out-of-plane macro-phase segregation in multiblended films composed of liquid-crystalline BCPs (LCBCPs), affording spontaneously layered three-dimensional (3D) mesostructures. This strategy relies on sequential liquid crystallization during the cooling process in thermal annealing as follows. The constituent LCBCP with the highest isotropic-transition temperature ( T iso ) first liquid-crystallizes and segregates from the other LCBCP mixture remaining in isotropic states to form a noncontaminated layer at the top surface. This preformed LCBCP layer preserves its inherent in-plane pattern and acts as a template guiding the subsequent micro-phase segregations of the other low- T iso LCBCPs underneath. This self-template–assisted micro-phase segregation (STAMPS) readily provides 3D mesostructures, the potential toward rational material design of which is also demonstrated in water-separation applications.
关键词:block copolymer ; self-assembly ; liquid crystal ; 3D mesostructure ; thin film