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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold
Published on: June 16, 2022
Gradient solvent vapor annealing of block copolymer thin films using a microfluidic mixing device
Julie N L Albert1, Timothy D Bogart, Ronald L Lewis
1University of Delaware, Chemical Engineering Department, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
Abstract:
Solvent vapor annealing (SVA) with solvent mixtures is a promising approach for controlling block copolymer thin film self-assembly. In this work, we present the design and fabrication of a solvent-resistant microfluidic mixing device to produce discrete SVA gradients in solvent composition and/or total solvent concentration. Using this device, we identified solvent composition dependent morphology transformations in poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) films. This device enables faster and more robust exploration of SVA parameter space, providing insight into self-assembly phenomena.

