Hierarchically Ordered Nanocomposites Self-Assembled from Linear-Alternating Block Copolymer/Nanoparticle Mixture

Using self-consistent field and density functional theories, we undertake a first investigation on the hierarchically ordered structures self-assembled from linear-alternating block copolymer/nanoparticle mixture. The linear-alternating block copolymers self-assemble into the lamellar structure with two length scales, providing a template to direct the nanoparticle distribution. The spontaneously hierarchical organization of nanoparticles within the ordered copolymer structures was found to be dependent on the particle concentration and particle radius. Furthermore, the presence of the nanoparticles can also induce the hierarchical structure change due to the entropic effects. We envisage that this approach opens a gateway to construct hierarchically ordered nanocomposites with different length scales.