Tailored Assemblies of Block Copolymers in Solution: It Is All about the Process

Abstract

Block copolymers have the capacity to self-organize into a myriad of aggregate structures when placed in selective solvents, offering great promise for the construction of delivery vehicles and complex nanoscale assemblies. A key feature of these materials is their propensity to become kinetically trapped in nonequilibrium states, meaning that the structures they adopt depend sensitively on the processing route taken. While this makes it challenging to fully explore the landscape of possible morphologies, it also means that careful attention to the pathway of self-assembly can allow for remarkable control over the resulting nonequilibrium structures. In this Perspective, we highlight several recent advances in processing approaches that provide new levels of tailorability to the structures and encapsulated contents of block copolymer assemblies in solution.