Simulation study of ring block copolymer and nanorod blends under shear flow

Abstract The self-assembly behavior of cyclic diblock copolymer/nanorod-doped blend systems under shear flow fields was investigated. By adjusting the shear rate, the initial cylindrical phase structure of the cyclic diblock copolymer was maintained. The shear flow field not only induces the reorientation of the layered structure, but also triggers the transition of the phase configuration. Specifically, the shear flow delayed the disappearance of cylindrical phases while accelerating the formation of lamellar phases. Additionally, it enhanced the orientation of nanorods to some extent. The final self-assembled morphology emerged from a competitive interplay between the phase behavior of the cyclic copolymer and the nanorods under shear.