Achieving Complete Photonic Band Gaps in a Low-symmetric Rectangular Cross-sectional Columnar Phase Self-assembled from Block Copolymers

Hai-Yan Weng; Zhan-Wei Li; Yan-Chun Li; Zhong-Yuan Lu

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3329-3

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Achieving Complete Photonic Band Gaps in a Low-symmetric Rectangular Cross-sectional Columnar Phase Self-assembled from Block Copolymers

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-14

- Achieving Complete Photonic Band Gaps in a Low-symmetric Rectangular Cross-sectional Columnar Phase Self-assembled from Block Copolymers
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 6, Pages: 1059-1066(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China
  b.College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhanwei@zzu.edu.cn (Z.W.L.)
  luzhy@jlu.edu.cn (Z.Y.L.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3329-3
  CLC：
- Received：20 January 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-02-20，
  
  Accepted：05 March 2025，
  
  Online First：08 May 2025，
  
  Published：20 May 2025
- Accepted：
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Weng, H. Y.; Li, Z. W.; Li, Y. C.; Lu, Z. Y. Achieving complete photonic band gaps in a low-symmetric rectangular cross-sectional columnar phase self-assembled from block copolymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1059–1066

Hai-Yan Weng, Zhan-Wei Li, Yan-Chun Li, et al. Achieving Complete Photonic Band Gaps in a Low-symmetric Rectangular Cross-sectional Columnar Phase Self-assembled from Block Copolymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(6): 1059-1066.
Weng, H. Y.; Li, Z. W.; Li, Y. C.; Lu, Z. Y. Achieving complete photonic band gaps in a low-symmetric rectangular cross-sectional columnar phase self-assembled from block copolymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1059–1066 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3329-3.

Hai-Yan Weng, Zhan-Wei Li, Yan-Chun Li, et al. Achieving Complete Photonic Band Gaps in a Low-symmetric Rectangular Cross-sectional Columnar Phase Self-assembled from Block Copolymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(6): 1059-1066. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3329-3.

摘要

We demonstrate that block copolymers (BCPs) incorporating shape-anisotropic rod-like side chains can self-assemble into a hexagonally packed columnar phase with low-symmetric rectangular cross-sections using dissipative particle dynamics simulations. This structure exhibits a complete photonic band gap. Our findings offer an effective strategy for low-symmetric photonic crystals.

Abstract

A significant challenge in developing block copolymer photonic crystals is constructing low-symmetric ordered phases

which are essential for achieving a complete photonic band gap. Here

we propose a promising strategy to create low-symmetric ordered morphologies by incorporating shape-anisotropic rod-like side chains into block copolymers. Using dissipative particle dynamics simulations

we demonstrate that block copolymers with longer rod-like side chains can self-assemble into a hexagonally packed columnar phase characterized by a low-symmetric rectangular cross-section. Photonic band structure calculations reveal that this low-symmetric columnar phase can exhibit a complete photonic band gap

with the gap size dependent on the aspect ratio of the rectangular cross-sections of the columns. Our findings suggest an effective approach to constructing low-symmetric photonic crystals through the self-assembly of block copolymers with shape-anisotropic segments.

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