Hemicellulose-derived xylan and its nanocrystal as novel polysaccharides to tune micro-phase separated block copolymers for advanced applications

Self-assembled block copolymers (BCPs) with micro-phase separated structures have attracted attention due to their potential applications as lithography material in the semiconductor industry and a soft template in the design of precisely ordered pore materials. The primary questions to be addressed include whether forestry bio-material xylan makes it possible to tune micro-phase separation window of BCP along with high Flory-Huggins’s parameter BCP design. Additionally, xylan nanocrystals (XNCs) have potential to further tune micro-phase separation of BCP due to their unique rod- or platelet-like shape and high crystallization. The follow-up question to be addressed is how to design XNC-BCP hybrid nanocomposites with ordered nanostructure that work as a soft template to establish precisely organized pores in energy-material applications. The studies of xylan and XNC tailoring micro-phase separation of BCP open an avenue for its advanced applications.