Sequence-encoded Conformation Pathways in Viscoelastic Microphase Separation of Multiblock Copolymers

Zhe-Peng Zhu; Jia-Ping Lin; Liang-Shun Zhang

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3705-7

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Sequence-encoded Conformation Pathways in Viscoelastic Microphase Separation of Multiblock Copolymers

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-08-31

- Sequence-encoded Conformation Pathways in Viscoelastic Microphase Separation of Multiblock Copolymers
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 9, Pages: 3176-3188(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhangls@ecust.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3705-7
  CLC：
- Received：11 March 2026，
  
  Accepted：07 April 2026，
  
  Online First：01 July 2026，
  
  Published：05 September 2026
- Accepted：
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Zhu, Z. P.; Lin, J. P.; Zhang, L. S. Sequence-encoded conformation pathways in viscoelastic microphase separation of multiblock copolymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3176–3188

Zhe-Peng Zhu, Jia-Ping Lin, Liang-Shun Zhang. Sequence-encoded Conformation Pathways in Viscoelastic Microphase Separation of Multiblock Copolymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(9): 3176-3188.
Zhu, Z. P.; Lin, J. P.; Zhang, L. S. Sequence-encoded conformation pathways in viscoelastic microphase separation of multiblock copolymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3176–3188 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3705-7.

Zhe-Peng Zhu, Jia-Ping Lin, Liang-Shun Zhang. Sequence-encoded Conformation Pathways in Viscoelastic Microphase Separation of Multiblock Copolymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(9): 3176-3188. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3705-7.

摘要

The sequence-encoded viscoelastic kinetics is introduced to direct non-equilibrium self-assembly pathways of multiblock copolymers and program their distinct conformation evolution

a capability that moves beyond the conventional design of static equilibrium nanostructures.

Abstract

Deciphering how molecular sequences of block copolymers program their self-assembly pathways is a pivotal pursuit in polymer science. To this end

we integrated viscoelastic constitutive relations into dynamic self-consistent field theory (DSCFT) to probe the spatiotemporally coupled evolution of nanostructures and chain conformations in sequence-defined multiblock copolymers during viscoelastic microphase separation. The DSCFT simulations reveal that the linear sequence of slow-relaxing “hard” and fast-relaxing “soft” blocks encodes two programmable kinetic motifs: a hard-soft-hard sequence drives a sharp

droplet-coalescence-triggered conversion from loop to bridge conformations during viscoelasticity-mediated phase inversion

whereas a soft-hard-soft sequence governs a gradual

network-contraction-driven relaxation of chain conformations. Serving as modular kinetic codes identified in the system of triblock copolymers

these kinetic motifs were shown to operate concurrently within tetrablock chains and generalize to penta- and hexa-block architectures

demonstrating the scalability and robustness of sequence-encoded dynamics. This work establishes the paradigm of sequence-encoded viscoelastic kinetics

providing a mechanism for controlling pathway-dependent self-assembly at the molecular level.

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references

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