Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

3.2K
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...
3.2K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.8K
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...
2.8K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.6K
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,...
2.6K
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

3.7K
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...
3.7K
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

2.5K
Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
2.5K
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

3.1K
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...
3.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Understanding Solvent-Induced Glass Transition in Polymer Thin Films Using Absorption-Desorption Isotherms.

Macromolecules·2026
Same author

Metal-Coordinated Polymer-Inorganic Hybrids: Synthesis, Properties, and Application.

Polymers·2025
Same author

The Effects of Chain Conformation and Nanostructure on the Dielectric Properties of Polymers.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Correcting Edge Defects in Self-Assembled Monolayers through Thermal Annealing.

Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry·2024
Same author

Substrate Neutrality for Obtaining Block Copolymer Vertical Orientation.

Polymers·2024
Same author

Revealing the Kinetic Phase Behavior of Block Copolymer Complexes Using Solvent Vapor Absorption-Desorption Isotherms.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
13:57

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes

Published on: December 24, 2014

14.3K

Wide Neutrality Window for Block Copolymer Vertical Orientation Using Incongruent Homopolymer Blended Brushes.

Kaitlyn Hillery1, Sharif Tasnim Mahmud1, Nayanathara Hendeniya1

  • 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 9, 2025
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new polymer brush system using mixed-length homopolymers to create neutral surfaces for block copolymer self-assembly. This method offers a wide neutrality window for vertical orientation, overcoming limitations of previous techniques.

Keywords:
block copolymerdirected self-assemblyincongruent blendsneutral substratepolymer brushresponsive surfacesself-assemblyvertical orientation

More Related Videos

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions
06:56

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Published on: October 10, 2013

40.2K
Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
11:42

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

Published on: June 20, 2019

8.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
13:57

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes

Published on: December 24, 2014

14.3K
Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions
06:56

Particles without a Box: Brush-first Synthesis of Photodegradable PEG Star Polymers under Ambient Conditions

Published on: October 10, 2013

40.2K
Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers
11:42

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

Published on: June 20, 2019

8.3K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Neutral surfaces are critical for controlling block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly into vertical nanostructures.
  • Conventional methods using random copolymer brushes or blended homopolymer brushes have limitations like batch variability, synthetic difficulty, and narrow neutrality windows.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel polymer brush (PB) system for achieving a wide neutrality window for vertical orientation of BCPs.
  • To overcome the drawbacks associated with existing methods for creating neutral substrates.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a polymer brush system composed of incongruent chain length homopolymers blended at various ratios.
  • Investigating the nonpreferential behavior of these PB blends with lamellar and cylinder forming BCPs.
  • Proposing a 'canopy effect' mechanism to explain the brush's responsive nature and interfacial energy minimization.

Main Results:

  • The proposed PB blends achieve a wide neutrality window, enabling vertical orientation of BCPs regardless of brush composition.
  • Demonstrated nonpreferential surface behavior for both lamellar and cylinder BCPs.
  • The system offers a straightforward and economical approach to BCP vertical orientation.

Conclusions:

  • A novel, tunable polymer brush system using incongruent homopolymer blends effectively creates neutral surfaces for BCP vertical orientation.
  • This approach provides a cost-effective and reliable method for nanopatterning applications.
  • The canopy effect mechanism explains the broad applicability and tunability of the system.