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Published July 2017 | public
Journal Article

Application of Bottlebrush Block Copolymers as Photonic Crystals

Abstract

Brush block copolymers are a class of comb polymers that feature polymeric side chains densely grafted to a linear backbone. These polymers display interesting properties due to their dense functionality, low entanglement, and ability to rapidly self-assemble to highly ordered nanostructures. The ability to prepare brush polymers with precise structures has been enabled by advancements in controlled polymerization techniques. This Feature Article highlights the development of brush block copolymers as photonic crystals that can reflect visible to near-infrared wavelengths of light. Fabrication of these materials relies on polymer self-assembly processes to achieve nanoscale ordering, which allows for the rapid preparation of photonic crystals from common organic chemical feedstocks. The characteristic physical properties of brush block copolymers are discussed, along with methods for their preparation. Strategies to induce self-assembly at ambient temperatures and the use of blending techniques to tune photonic properties are emphasized.

Additional Information

© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. Received: January 25, 2017; Revised: April 8, 2017; Published online: May 22, 2017. We would like to acknowledge the many co-workers over the years who have contributed to the research described above. The U.S. National Science Foundation (CHE-1048404), U.S. Department of Energy (DE-SC0001293), and a Dow Resnick Bridge Award funded aspects of our research in this area. A.L.L.-M. thanks the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech for fellowship support. We thank Alice B. Chang for insightful discussions during the preparation of this manuscript.

Additional details

Created:
August 21, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023