Magnetic alignment of block copolymer microdomains by intrinsic chain anisotropy

Abstract

We examine the role of intrinsic chain susceptibility anisotropy in magnetic field directed self-assembly of a block copolymer using \textit{in situ} X-ray scattering. Alignment of a lamellar mesophase is observed on cooling across the disorder-order transition with the resulting orientational order inversely proportional to the cooling rate. We discuss the origin of the susceptibility anisotropy, $\Delta\chi$, that drives alignment, and calculate its magnitude using coarse-grained molecular dynamics to sample conformations of surface-tethered chains, finding $\Delta\chi\approx 2\times10^{-8}$. From field-dependent scattering data we estimate grains of $\approx1.2$ $\mu$m are present during alignment. These results demonstrate that intrinsic anisotropy is sufficient to support strong field-induced mesophase alignment and suggest a versatile strategy for field control of orientational order in block copolymers.