Discovery of New Metastable Patterns in Diblock Copolymers

Abstract

The ordered patterns formed by microphase-separated block copolymer systems demonstrate periodic symmetry, and all periodic structures belong to one of 230 space groups. Based on this fact, a strategy of estimating the initial values of self-consistent field theory to discover ordered patterns of block copolymers is developed. In particular, the initial period of the computational box is estimated by the Landau-Brazovskii model as well. By planting the strategy into the whole-space discrete method, several new metastable patterns are discovered in diblock copolymers.