Professor Moon Jeong Park and PhD candidate Hojun Lee from POSTECH’s Division of Chemistry delivered to life nanostructures of block copolymers (hereafter BCPs), which have been beforehand solely envisioned. This examine was featured in Science and printed on the fifth of January 2024.

BCPs symbolize polymers constructed by linking blocks of 1 monomer with blocks of one other. Able to self-assembly, BCP’s craft numerous nanoscale constructions, discovering widespread functions throughout fields protecting semiconductor and medication. Current research have been vigorously exploring comparisons in optical and mechanical properties primarily based on BCP construction. Nonetheless, as constructions develop extra intricate, their thermodynamic stability diminishes, posing appreciable challenges of their manufacturing.

Amongst these constructions, the plumber’s nightmare, exhibiting medial packing of polymer chain ends, stands as an immensely complicated and distinctive formation. Whereas real-life situations of its manifestation have been absent, it was hypothesized to own distinctive optical and mechanical traits as a result of its distinctive channel construction, setting it other than different nanostructures.

On this groundbreaking analysis, the workforce defied expectations by turning the not possible into potential. Whereas most analysis has centered on the primary polymer chains constituting BCPs, the researchers shift their focus to the inconspicuous, lower than one %, chain ends. They crafted di-end-functionalized BCPs by linking totally different molecules to every finish of the polymer chain. Consequently, the polymer chain ends exhibited strong mutual attraction, inflicting all of the polymer tails to coalesce inward, marking the workforce’s profitable realization of the plumber’s nightmare construction, a world’s first achievement.

Moreover, the workforce efficiently produced a variety of BCP constructions that had hitherto remained enigmatic, together with gyroid and diamond constructions. This accomplishment in materializing BCP constructions beforehand confined to the realms of creativeness and principle stands as a big feat.

Of explicit be aware, this examine’s significance lies within the conclusion that complicated constructions might be stably realized when potent forces exist on the ends, regardless of numerous changes made in BCP polymer composition and the primary chain’s chemical properties. This means the common applicability and adaptableness of this analysis for future research centered on growing numerous composite-structure polymer nanostructures.

Professor Alisyn J. Nedoma from the College of Sheffield, an skilled within the BCP area, remarked within the Science commentary, “It lays the groundwork for designing novel BCP nanostructures,” assessing the potential cost-effectiveness in creating nanostructures with desired traits (see the Perspective by Nedoma).

The examine’s lead, Professor Moon Jeong Park defined, “This analysis has enabled us to ascertain a technique for growing tailor-made community constructions in polymer BCP. It is going to function a platform for crafting polymer BCPs with numerous properties in nano-technology functions.”

This work was carried out with assist from the next applications below the Nationwide Analysis Basis of Korea: Mid-Profession Researcher Program, Artistic Supplies Discovery Program, and Science Analysis Heart Program.