architecture and self-assembly. Therefore, because of their simple architecture, linear diblock

copolymers are still currently the best-known class of block copolymers. Several theoretical

models have been proposed to describe the behavior of block copolymers such as for instance the

self-consistent field theory (SCFT)9 Or the mean-field theory (MFT)1o where the phase behavior

is dictated by the Flory-Huggins segment-segment interaction parameter, the degree of

polymerization, and the composition. As an example, if the two A and B blocks of a linear AB

diblock copolymer are immiscible, they can adopt in the bulk, as shown in Figure 1-1, various

microphase morphologies such as spheres (S and S'), cylinders (C and C'), double gyroids (G

and G'), or lamellae (L).1"












Figure 1-1. Mean-field predication of the morphologies for conformationally symmetric diblock
 melts. Phases are labeled as: S (spheres), C (cylinders), G (double gyroids), L
 lamellaee). fA is the volume fraction.1c

 When block copolymers are dissolved in a selective solvent, the chains can aggregate to

reversibly form well-defined micelles above the so-called critical micellar concentration (CMC).

For concentrations lower than the CMC, block copolymer molecules are unassociated as

illustrated in Figure 1-2 for amphiphilic diblock copolymers in water aggregating into spherical

micelles.