Perforated layer structures in liquid crystalline block copolymers

Phase structures of a series of poly(styrene-block-(2,5-bis-(4- methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonyl)styrene) (PS-b-PMPCS) liquid crystalline “rod-coil” block copolymers (LCBCPs) were investigated using thermal analysis, X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. In the low molecular weight asymmetric BCP system, perforated layer structures were observed where the excessive PS molecules punctured the PMPCS domains and these perforations uniquely possess tetragonal in- plane symmetry. In the high molecular weight system, these perforated layer structures were observed in symmetric samples. Randomly initiated perforations became more regular and uniform upon blending with PS homopolymer in symmetric BCPs. These regular perforations also possess tetragonal in-plane symmetry.