A Global View on Block Copolymers

Abstract

In this systematic review, a total of 45,143 publications on block copolymers, issued between 1952 and 2019, are analyzed in terms of number, source, language, institution, country, keywords, and block copolymer type, to find out their evolution and predict research trends. The number of publications devoted to block copolymers has been growing for over six decades, maintaining a consistent level throughout the last few years. In their majority, documents came out of the United States, although more recently, Chinese institutions are those displaying the largest production. Keywords analysis indicated that one-third of the publications concerned synthesis, around 20% explored self-assembly and morphological aspects, and another 20% referred to block copolymer applications in solution. In particular, 2019 confirmed the expansion of studies related to drug delivery, and in minor extent, to a deeper view of self-assembling. Styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer was the most popular in studies covering both basic and industrially oriented aspects. Other highly investigated copolymers are PEO-b–PPO-b–PEO (Pluronic©) and amphiphilic block copolymers based on polycaprolactone or poly(lactic acid), which owed their success to their potential as delivery vehicles. Future trending topics will concern nanomedicine challenges and technology-related applications, with a special attention toward the orientation and ordering of mesophase-separated morphologies.

Block copolymer solution self‐assembly: Recent advances, emerging trends, and applications

“…Owing to all these fascinating features BCPs and their self‐assembly constitute a prominent research topic worldwide and the number of corresponding publications is overwhelming 8 . It is therefore essentially impossible to cover all related scientific production in one review, we rather focus on the latest developments and recent advances through representative and intriguing examples of BCP solution self‐assembly.…”

“…2,7 Owing to all these fascinating features BCPs and their self-assembly constitute a prominent research topic worldwide and the number of corresponding publications is overwhelming. 8 It is therefore essentially impossible to cover all related scientific production in one review, we rather focus on the latest developments and recent advances through representative and intriguing examples of BCP solution self-assembly. After a brief overview of the factors that govern self-assembly, we elaborate on the plethora of observed nanoassembled morphologies and the ways of attaining them, as well as recently developed methods for promoting nonconventional self-assembly (Section 2).…”

Switch from Anionic Polymerization to Coordinative Chain Transfer Polymerization: A Valuable Strategy to Make Olefin Block Copolymers

“…Block copolymers are ubiquitous materials in polymer science [1–3] . They combine the characteristics of the different blocks leading to original properties.…”

“…Block copolymers are ubiquitous materials in polymer science. [1][2][3] They combine the characteristics of the different blocks leading to original properties. For instance, they can self-assemble to form nanostructured films or nanoparticles for electronic and medical applications.…”

Vertical Cylinder-to-Lamella Transition in Thin Block Copolymer Films Induced by In-Plane Electric Field

“…Owing to the immiscibility of chemically different monomer sequences, block copolymers can self-assemble into various nanostructures in melts and solutions. This tendency, which has been extensively investigated for the last 50 years [1,2], is now widely used in industry for the fabrication of semiconductor, photovoltaic, membrane, medical, and other functional nanodevices [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Application of patterned block copolymer thin films as nanoimprint lithography templates attracts most practical interest and importance [12].…”