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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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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
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Non-native three-dimensional block copolymer morphologies.

Atikur Rahman1, Pawel W Majewski1, Gregory Doerk1

  • 1Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.

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|December 23, 2016
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Summary

Researchers manipulated block copolymer thin films to create novel nanoscale structures. This iterative assembly process, using surface topography, generates diverse 3D morphologies beyond native self-assembly limits.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Self-assembly enables molecules to form ordered nanoscale structures.
  • Traditional self-assembly is limited to a few basic morphologies due to energy minimization.
  • Block copolymer thin films are soft self-assembling materials with potential for complex structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a method for creating diverse, previously unreported morphologies in block copolymer thin films.
  • To overcome the limitations of native self-assembly in block copolymers.
  • To explore the potential of iterative assembly for generating complex 3D nanostructures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing an iterative assembly process with block copolymer thin films.
  • Immobilizing polymer layers on surfaces to create templates.
  • Employing subtle surface topography to direct the ordering of successive polymer layers.

Main Results:

  • A diverse library of novel morphologies was successfully generated.
  • The iterative assembly process yielded complex 3D structures.
  • These morphologies are not found in the native block copolymer phase diagram.

Conclusions:

  • Block copolymer thin films can be manipulated to create a wide array of complex nanostructures.
  • Iterative assembly using surface templating is a powerful strategy for generating novel morphologies.
  • This approach expands the possibilities for designing and fabricating advanced nanomaterials.