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Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
Published on: June 20, 2019
Electric-field-induced alignment of block copolymer/nanoparticle blends
Clemens Liedel1, Kerstin A Schindler, Mariela J Pavan
1Macromolecular Materials and Surfaces, RWTH Aachen University and DWI an der RWTH, Aachen e.V., Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:
External electric fields readily align birefringent block-copolymer mesophases. In this study the effect of gold nanoparticles on the electric-field-induced alignment of a lamellae-forming polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) copolymer is assessed. Nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in the styrenic phase and promote the quantitative alignment of lamellar domains by substantially lowering the critical field strength above which alignment proceeds. The results suggest that the electric-field-assisted alignment of nanostructured block copolymer/nanoparticle composites may offer a simple way to greatly mitigate structural and orientational defects of such films under benign experimental conditions.
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