Influence of nucleobase stoichiometry on the self-assembly of ABC triblock copolymers

Abstract

ABC triblock copolymers bearing adenine- and thymine-functionalized external blocks self-assembled into long-range, ordered lamellar microphase-separated morphologies on non-patterned substrates. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding formed thymine–adenine triplets and promoted self-assembly into well-defined lamellae consisting of poly(n-butyl acrylate) soft domains and complementary nucleobase hard domains, while thymine–adenine duplets contributed to superior mechanical properties.