Control the Self‐assembly of Block Copolymers by Tailoring the Packing Frustration
Authors: Xu Zhanwen , Li Weihua 
Published: December 2021

Comprehensive Summary

The concept of “packing frustration” has been used to understand the self‐assembly behaviors of block copolymers for decades. However, rare attention has been paid to tailoring the packing frustration. This account provides a review of our recent endeavor of controlling the self‐assembly of block copolymers via tailoring the packing frustration. The basic idea is to release the packing frustration of chains through the local segregation between different blocks of the same component filling different spaces of near and far. Two different majority blocks are designed to release their packing frustration in the matrix. In particular, this effect of released packing frustration has been successfully combined with other effects such as the stretched bridging block to stabilize many unusual low‐coordinated phases. We have also proposed to release the packing frustration of minority blocks within the interface curvature by designing the architectures of minority blocks. The effect of released packing frustration of minority blocks is applied to drastically expand the region of spherical phases and thus to obtain significant regions of complex Frank‐Kasper phases. In brief, the self‐assembly of block copolymers can be largely controlled by tailoring the packing frustration of blocks, even leading to the formation of many unusual ordered phases.

How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?

I got into the field of block copolymer self‐assembly when I started my postdoctoral research. After I finished my PhD study, I had two options. One option was to stay in Shanghai Jiao Tong University where I had already spent nearly 9 years. The other was to do postdoc. At that time, it was quite difficult for me to find good postdoctoral position. Actually, I just got one offer from a very small university, St. Francis Xavier University located at a small town in Canada that is actually more like a village since its population is less than 10000. Considering that the supervisor has a solid background and his research about the self‐assembly of block copolymer is of interest for me, I decided to take that postdoctoral position. Moreover, I really wanted to go abroad to open the mind and to improve my English. A few years after I got into this field, some senior professors told me that there was nothing worth doing anymore and suggested me to change to other fields. After thinking it over and discussing with my supervisor of my second postdoc, Prof. An‐Chang Shi, I decided to stay in this field. Soon after, we came up with some exciting ideas. With these ideas, we have obtained a series of interesting results that renew the understanding on the self‐assembly of block copolymers. When we are doing scientific research, we do not think “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence”.

How do you supervise your students?

I do not have very rich experience in supervising students. I supervise my students abiding by one main principle, that is, supervising each student in accordance with his/her aptitude.

What is the most important personality for scientific research?

There are many uncertainties in scientific research. In particular, we never know when great idea comes up in your brain. Great ideas are the most important for making outstanding achievements. Only if one keeps thinking and working hard can he/she come up with good ideas. Therefore, the most important personality for scientific research is perseverance.

What are your hobbies?

I like music and sports, both of which can relax me. Especially, I like to play basketball. When I play basketball, I only have the hoop in my eyes, so I can relax myself completely.

How do you keep balance between research and family?

For a person, family is always very important. Therefore, it is very essential for one to keep balance between research and family. For me, I do not think that there is a contradiction between staying with family and working. Since I was young, I have always paid great attention to the efficiency of studying or working, rather than the length of time. In addition, I really enjoy the time with my family, which makes me more focused when I work.

Who influences you mostly in your life?

In my life, many people have had important influences on me, including my family, my teachers, my friends, and so on. It is very hard to say who has the greatest influence on me. If I have to choose one, it should be my mother. I was the youngest child in the family. I have never been to kindergarten, I spent a lot of time with my mother during my childhood. Although my mother had almost no education, she taught me a lot of important principles to be a man. In addition, she is very hardworking and persevering, which influences me to work hard and persevere.