Design and Morphological Investigation of High-χ Catechol-Containing Styrenic Block Copolymers

We report the synthesis of multifunctional block copolymers (BCPs) showing a high Flory–Huggins interaction parameter (χ), which enable sub-10 nm line-space structures for low degree polymerization (N). The χ BCPs are based on poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)–block-poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene) (PDHS-b-PTMSS) architecture. controlled PDHS-b-PTMSS precursors was performed using user-friendly sequential nitroxide mediated (NMP) poly(3,4-diacetoxystyrene) and block-poly(4-trimethylsilylstyrene) (PDAS-b-PTMSS). Thereafter, acid-catalyzed deprotection acetoxy moieties produced library with molecular weights ranging from 2.1 to 44.5 kg/mol. Bulk lamellar cylindrical periodicities as small 8 were revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering. Moreover, thin films assembled solvent vapor annealing define 10 patterns in favorable conditions, i.e., at 20 °C min. In summary, our work brings further knowledge BCP toolbox next-generation nanomanufacturing needs.