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Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

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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...
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
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Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.9K
The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this...
2.9K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.6K
Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

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Block copolymer morphology formation on topographically complex surfaces: a self-consistent field theoretical study.

Xianggui Ye1, Brian J Edwards, Bamin Khomami

  • 1Materials Research and Innovation Laboratory (MRAIL), Sustainable Energy Education and Research Center (SEERC), Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|January 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Tuning trench width, not depth, controls diblock copolymer morphology on rough substrates. This finding aids in reducing defects during directed self-assembly for lamellar structures.

Keywords:
block copolymerdirected self-assemblymicrophase separationsubstrate effectsurface roughness

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Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules
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Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules
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Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Diblock copolymers form lamellar morphologies crucial for nanotechnology.
  • Controlling copolymer self-assembly on patterned substrates is essential for defect reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the influence of substrate roughness, specifically trenches of varying width and depth, on the morphological development of lamellae-forming diblock copolymers.
  • Determine the key parameters for achieving desired lamellar orientations and minimizing defects.

Main Methods:

  • Employed self-consistent field theory (SCFT) to model copolymer behavior.
  • Simulated diblock copolymer films on substrates with precisely defined trench geometries.

Main Results:

  • Observed three distinct lamellar orientations: horizontal, vertical parallel to trenches, and vertical perpendicular to trenches.
  • Morphology formation is sensitive to trench width and surface affinity.
  • Trench depth showed minimal impact on morphological development.

Conclusions:

  • Substrate trench width and surface affinity are critical for directing diblock copolymer lamellar morphology.
  • Optimizing trench width, rather than depth, is key to reducing defect density in directed self-assembly processes.
  • This research provides insights for fabricating ordered nanostructures using diblock copolymers.