Self-Assembly Behaviors of B₁AB₂CB₃ MultiBlock Copolymer

The self-assembly behavior of linear B₁AB₂CB₃ multiblock copolymers is investigated using the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). It has been revealed that the relative lengths between the three B-blocks are able to tune the packing crystalline lattice of binary spherical or cylindrical phases. Here we focus on the impact of the molecular architecture on more phase behaviors in a wider parameter space. Our SCFT results indicate that the relative lengths of the three B-blocks have significant influences on not only spherical/cylindrical phases but also other phases such as the alternative gyroid and lamellar phases. In particular, the stability region of the gyroid phase varies drastically and non-monotonically, which is accompanied by the drastic change of other phase regions. Furthermore, our results reveal that the change of these phase regions is resulted in by different sophisticated mechanisms associated with the relative lengths of the three B-blocks, i.e. the effect of stretched bridging B2-block, the regulation of packing frustration of the B-blocks and the solubilization of short B-blocks.