Advances in self-ordering macromolecules and nanostructure design

Nanostructured macromolecules, such as block copolymers, elucidate the fundamental principles governing self-organization in soft condensed matter. Significant experimental and theoretical advances regarding complex morphology development in bulk copolymers and their homopolymer blends have recently been achieved. New equilibrium block copolymer morphologies have been reported for copolymers in the super-strong segregation regime, and the pathways by which bicontinuous morphologies in copolymers and copolymer blends form have been identified. Emerging research directions target chemically tailored copolymer systems as designer templates for uniform ceramic nanostructures and field-responsive devices with switchable molecular orientation.