Abstract
Gyroid-to-cylinder transition in a diblock copolymer melt under an electric field is studied by real-space dynamical self-consistent-field theory. Starting from an equilibrium gyroid structure, we apply an electric field along [111], [ 11̄d], and [112̄] directions of the conventional unit cell of the gyroid structure. Under sufficiently high value of the electric field, an epitaxial transition to cylinders occurs. Contrary to the case of a similar transition under the shear flow, we observe 5-fold connections as intermediates in the transition. We found a critical behavior of the lifetime of the initial gyroid structure, which can be accounted for using the mean-field argument. Numerically obtained scattering function explains the unclarified intermediates experimentally observed in the thermal relaxation of a sheared gyroid.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2928-2935 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Macromolecules |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 Apr 17 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry