Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

How Spontaneous Electrowetting and Surface Charge Affect Drop Motion.

Physical review letters·2026

Same author

Fabrication of Janus Supraparticles by Induced Phase Separation by Gravity.

ACS nano·2026

Same author

Peptide-Based Block Copolymer Electrolytes as Sustainable Material Platforms for Tunable Ion Transport and Mechanical Reinforcement.

ACS macro letters·2026

Same author

Wetting of granular and porous materials.

Advances in colloid and interface science·2026

Same author

Transparent and airtight silica nano- and microchannels with uniform tubular cross-section.

Soft matter·2026

Same author

Water Drops Sliding Over Arrays of Janus Micropillars With Hydrophilic Tops: A New Mechanism of Drop Charging.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Published on: June 8, 2016

Self-induced transparency in diblock copolymer dispersions.

Manos Anyfantakis¹, Benoit Loppinet, George Fytas

¹Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany. anyfanta@mpip-mainz.mpg.de

|June 30, 2012

Summary

Weak red laser light induces transparency in diblock copolymer solutions. The laser forms transparent microchannels in ethyl acetate and copolymer-rich fibers in hexane, revealing novel light-soft matter interactions.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Published on: June 8, 2016

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Area of Science:

Soft Matter Physics
Polymer Science
Photonics

Background:

Diblock copolymers exhibit complex self-assembly in selective solvents.
Light-matter interactions in soft materials are crucial for advanced applications.
Understanding these interactions can lead to novel material processing techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of weak red laser light on diblock copolymer dispersions.
To explore the formation of structures and optical properties in response to laser irradiation.
To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of light-soft matter interaction in these systems.

Main Methods:

Preparation of diblock copolymer [poly(isoprene-b-styrene)] dispersions.
Irradiation of dispersions with weak red laser light in two selective solvents (hexane and ethyl acetate).
Optical microscopy and light transmission measurements to analyze structural changes and transparency.

Main Results:

In hexane (polyisoprene selective solvent), laser light induced the formation of higher refractive index copolymer-rich fibers.
In ethyl acetate (polystyrene selective solvent), self-induced transparency was observed, creating a transparent microchannel.
A two-step patterning mechanism was identified as responsible for the microchannel generation and increased light transmission.

Conclusions:

Weak laser light can reversibly alter the morphology and optical properties of diblock copolymer dispersions.
The observed effects are solvent-dependent, leading to distinct structural responses.
This study highlights an unanticipated light-soft matter interaction with potential for novel optical material design.