Stable and unstable phases of a diblock copolymer melt

Abstract

Using self-consistent field theory, we examine microphases of diblock copolymers and find, in addition to lamellar, hexagonal, and cubic phases, a stable gyroid phase which occurs between the lamellar and hexagonal ones. It terminates at a triple point, with a lamellar to hexagonal transition occurring in the weak-segregation limit. Other phases of experimental interest are studied, and we describe the regions in which they are most nearly stable.