Oral: Exploring the Role of Conserved Dynamic Covalent Bonds in Modulating Phase Behavior in Block Copolymers

Block copolymers (BCPs) with their diverse applications are known for their unique microphase separation properties but can encounter defects during self-assembly. This research introduces dynamic bonds into BCP systems, aiming to potentially enhance long-range ordering. The incorporated chains, characterized by dynamic bond at end groups that maintain conserved, suggesting a pathway to ordered structures through bond exchange reactions. Phase diagrams indicate that a balance between permanent and dynamic chains might modulate the phase separation threshold. The presence of dynamic bonds also seems to impact system morphology, providing tunabilities for domain sizes and interfacial properties. Thermodynamic analyses further hint at dynamic bonds favoring ordered phases in BCP systems. We anticipate that faster bond exchange reactions could facilitate self-assembly, and investigations into this hypothesis are underway.