Manipulating block copolymer morphology and self-assembly behaviors through sulfonation-induced crosslinking

Block copolymer self-assembly is indispensable for establishing well-ordered nanostructures in polymer materials. Furthermore, the ability to manipulate these nanostructures and their derived functional materials can enhance their performance in many applications. Specifically, ordered mesoporous materials can be fabricated through converting block copolymer morphologies into tailored pore textures, and greatly benefit from the wealth of accessible morphologies. This work demonstrates the morphological evolution of a triblock copolymer system, and its implications, as it undergoes a heterogeneous crosslinking reaction in the solid state for the preparation of mesoporous materials. The morphology established during this process is the result of an intricate interplay between separate reactions within the majority and minority phases of the block copolymer and directly impacts the final structure of the porous material product. An in-depth understanding of the physical consequences that result from simultaneous crosslinking and swelling could provide a platform for the manipulation of self-assembly behaviors in the solid-state for block copolymer-derived materials.