Numerical studies on the thermal tuning of domain size in supramolecular diblock copolymer melts

This study examined the thermal tunability of the domain size in mesophases of supramolecular diblock copolymer melts. Two homopolymers of different species that can reversibly bond at terminal binding sites to form a diblock copolymer were considered. Reversible bonding was constrained to occur between the dissimilar blocks so that this mixture is capable of forming diblocks only. The prospects of thermal control of domain sizes for the lamellar and hexagonal cylindrical mesophases, which are known to occupy a large part of the phase diagram for block copolymers, were investigated. The copolymer concentrations were controlled by the bond strength, segmental incompatibility, and relative proportions. The ratio of the homopolymer chain lengths, which control the architecture of the copolymers, was fixed in each of the phases mentioned above. The effect of temperature variation on the size of the domain of mesophase structure was examined using a numerical self-consistent field theory (SCFT) scheme.