Download or read book Controlling Self assembly and Anisotropy of Block Copolymer Materials with Nanorods written by Castro S. T. Laicer and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Block Copolymer Self assembly Fundamentals and Applications in Formulation of Nano structured Fluids written by Biswajit Sarkar and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dispersions of nanoparticles in polymer matrices form hybrid materials that can exhibit superior structural and functional properties and find applications in e. g. thermo-plastics, electronics, polymer electrolytes, catalysis, paint formulations, and drug delivery. Control over the particle location and orientation in the polymeric matrices are essential in order to realize the enhanced mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of the nanohybrids. Block copolymers, composed of two or more different monomers, are promising for controlling particle location and orientation because of their ability to organize into ordered nanostructures. Fundamental questions pertaining to nanoparticle-polymer interfacial interactions remain open and formulate the objectives of our investigation. Particle-polymer enthalpic and entropic interactions control the nanoparticle dispersion in polymer matrices. Synthetic chemical methods for modifying the particle surface in order to control polymer-particle interactions are involved and large scale production is not possible. In the current approach, a physical method is employed to control polymer-particle interactions. The use of commercially available solvents is found to be effective in modifying particle-polymer interfacial interactions. The approach is applicable to a wide range of particle-polymer systems and can thereby enable large scale processing of polymer nanohybrids. The systems of silica nanoparticles dispersed in long-range or short-range self-assembled structures of aqueous poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers (Pluronics) is considered here. The effect of various parameters such as the presence of organic solvents, pH, and particle size on the block copolymer organization and the ensuing particle-polymer interactions are investigated. Favorable surface interactions between the deprotonated silica nanoparticle and PEO-rich domain facilitate particle incorporation in the cylindrical lyotropic mesophase formed by hydrated PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer. The amount of nanoparticle dispersed is limited to 10 wt% due to restrictions posed by a combination of thermodynamics and geometry. Incorporation of deprotonated nanoparticles by replacing equal mass of water did not affect the lattice parameter of the hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline structures formed by hydrated PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer. The incorporation of protonated NPs resulted in an increase in the lattice parameter due to stronger nanoparticle-polymer enthalpic interactions. Two dimensional swelling exponent (d ~ Φpolymer-0. 65) suggests that deprotonated nanoparticles are located inside the PEO-rich domains, away from PEO-PPO interfaces. The presence of organic solvents screen the effect of protonated NPs on the lattice parameter of the hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline structures formed by hydrated PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer.

Download or read book Controlling Directed Self assembly and Sintering of Gold Nanorods in Patterned Block Copolymer Thin Films written by Fengyuan Lai and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Controlling Morphology of Multi component Block Copolymer Based Materials written by Rafal Adam Mickiewicz and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ability of block copolymers to self-assemble into ordered microstructures has attracted much interest both from a pure scientific perspective and for their potential in numerous industrial applications. The microphase separation of block copolymers has been successfully exploited in a wide range of applications, such as templating and lithography, enhancement of mechanical properties, and nano reactor schemes. This thesis focuses on the characterization of the morphology in composite systems where one or more of the components is a block copolymer. In the first part of this thesis, binary blends of very high molecular weight diblock copolymers with a low molecular weight triblock copolymer are investigated. The high molecular weight diblock copolymers are very strongly segregating, with interaction parameter values, XN, in the range 470 - 1410. The phase diagram revealed a large miscibility gap for the blends, with macrophase separation into two distinct types of microphase separated domains and implied virtually no solubility of the much higher molecular weight diblocks in the triblock. For certain blend compositions, morphological transitions from the lamellar to cylindrical and bicontinuous structures were also observed, even though the overall composition in the blend would be expected to favor the lamellar microstructure. This was found to result from the compositional asymmetry of the triblock copolymer influencing the curvature of the inter-material dividing surface (IMDS). Finally, a strong segregation theory model was used to interpret the observed results. In the second part of this thesis the microstructure formation in nanocomposites based on a liquid crystalline side chain block copolymer (LCBCP) and gold nanoparticles was investigated. The location of the nanoparticles was found to not only depend on the surface chemistry of the gold nanoparticles, but also on the self-organization within the liquid crystalline domain of the LCBCP. The nanoparticles were excluded from the liquid crystalline domains due to the high free energy penalty of disrupting the smectic layering. The final location of the nanoparticles within the composite was determined by the nature of the stabilizing surface coating. The work presented in this thesis revealed a number of interesting tools which are useful for obtaining a wide range of morphologies in multi-component block copolymer systems.

Download or read book Block Copolymers in Nanoscience written by Massimo Lazzari and published by Wiley-VCH. This book was released on 2007-06-27 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This first book to take a detailed look at one of the key focal points where nanotechnology and polymers meet provides both an introductory view for beginners as well as in-depth knowledge for specialists in the various research areas involved. It investigates all types of application for block copolymers: as tools for fabricating other nanomaterials, as structural components in hybrid materials and nanocomposites, and as functional materials. The multidisciplinary approach covers all stages from chemical synthesis and characterization, presenting applications from physics and chemistry to biology and medicine, such as micro- and nanolithography, membranes, optical labeling, drug delivery, as well as sensory and analytical uses.

Download or read book Amphiphilic Block Copolymers written by P. Alexandridis and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2000-10-18 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is the belief of the editors of this book that the recognition of block copolymers as being amphiphilic molecules and sharing common features with other well-studied amphiphiles will prove beneficial to both the surfactant and the polymer communities. An aim of this book is to bridge the two communities and cross-fertilise the different fields. To this end, leading researchers in the field of amphiphilic block copolymer self-assembly, some having a background in surfactant chemistry, and others with polymer physics roots, have agreed to join forces and contribute to this book.The book consists of four entities. The first part discusses theoretical considerations behind the block copolymer self-assembly in solution and in the melt. The second part provides case studies of self-assembly in different classes of block copolymers (e.g., polyethers, polyelectrolytes) and in different environments (e.g., in water, in non-aqueous solvents, or in the absence of solvents). The third part presents experimental tools, ranging from static (e.g., small angle neutron scattering) to dynamic (e.g., rheology), which can prove valuable in the characterization of block copolymer self-assemblies. The fourth part offers a sampling of current applications of block copolymers in, e.g., formulations, pharmaceutics, and separations, applications which are based on the unique self-assembly properties of block copolymers.

Download or read book Self Assembly of Nanostructures and Patchy Nanoparticles written by Shafigh Mehraeen and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2020-11-04 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Top-down approaches are currently the main contributor of fabricating microelectronic devices. However, the prohibitive cost of numerous technological steps in these approaches is the main obstacle to further progress. Furthermore, a large number of applications necessitate fabrication of complex and ultra-small devices that cannot be made using these approaches. New approaches based on natural self-assembly of matter need to be developed to allow for fabrication of micro and nanoelectronic devices. Self-assembly of nanostructures is a dynamic field, which explores physics of these structures and new ways to fabricate them. However, the major problem is how to control the properties of the nanostructures resulting from low dimensionality. This book presents recent advances made to address this problem, and fabricate nanostructures using self-assembly.

Download or read book Self assembly of Block Copolymers and Nanoparticles and Their Applications as Environmentally Responsive Materials written by Tian Tang and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Self assembly of Block Copolymers for the Fabrication of Functional Nanomaterials written by Li Yao and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation explores the use of block copolymers which can self-assemble into different morphologies as templates to fabricate nanostructured materials. The first section (Chapters 2-4) reports the formation of mesoporous silica films with spherical, cylindrical and bicontinuous pores up to 40 nm in diameter through replicating the morphologies of the solid block copolymer (BCP) templates, polystyrene-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-PtBA), via phase selective condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate in supercritical CO2. Next, directed self-assembly was used to control the orientation of cylindrical domains in PS-b-PtBA templates. Large-area aligned mesochannels in silica films with diameters tunable between 5 and 30 nm were achieved through the replication of oriented templates via scCO2 infusion. The long-range alignment of mesochannels was confirmed through GISAXS with sample stage azimuthal rotation. In the second section (Chapters 5-6), enantiopure tartaric acid was used as an additive to dramatically improve ordering in poly(ethylene oxide-block-tert-butyl acrylate) (PEO-b-PtBA) copolymers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray scattering were used to study the phase behavior and morphologies within both bulk and thin films. With the addition of a photo acid generator, photo-induced disorder in the PEO-b-PtBA/tartaric acid composite system was achieved upon UV exposure which deprotected the PtBA block to yield poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), which is phase-miscible with PEO. Area-selective UV exposure using a photo-mask was applied with the assistance of trace amounts of base quencher to achieve high-resolution hierarchical patterns. Helical superstructures were observed by TEM in this BCP/chiral additive system with 3D handedness confirmed by TEM tomography. In the last section (Chapter 7), ultra-high loadings of nanoparticles into target domains of block copolymer composites were achieved by blending the block copolymer hosts with small molecule additives that exhibit strong interactions with one of the polymer chain segments and with the nanoparticle ligands via hydrogen bonding. The addition of 40 wt% D-tartaric acid to poly(ethylene oxide-block-tert-butyl acrylate) (PEO-b-PtBA) enabled the loading of up to 150 wt% of 4-hydroxythiophenol functionalized Au nanoparticles relative to the mass of the target hydrophilic domain. This was equivalent to over 40% Au by mass of the resulting well ordered composite as measured by thermal gravimetric analysis.

Download or read book Points Lines and Walls written by Maurice Kléman and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 1983 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Design and Characterization of Self assembled Nanostructures of Block Copolymers in Solution written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Self-assembling amphiphilic block copolymers have been studied extensively due to their ability to form a wide range of morphologies including spheres, cylinders, and vesicles. Changing the molecular composition of the block copolymer, the relative block lengths, and the solution conditions can alter the assembly behavior. The main goal of this dissertation is to investigate the self-assembly of two different amphiphilic block copolymer systems in an effort to controllably make different assembled structures. Amphiphilic, triblock copolymers of poly(acrylic acid)- b -poly(methyl acrylate)- b -polystyrene (PAA-PMA-PS) in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/ water solvent mixtures were studied. The solution conditions and the relative block lengths were varied, and complexation with an amine counterion was used to influence the self-assembly of these materials. A variety of structures were observed including phase-separated nanoparticles, bulk-like lamellar phase separation, spherical, cylindrical, and disk-like micelles, as well as toroidal assemblies. The specific structure formed was dependent on the composition of the triblock copolymer, the amount and valency of the counterion present, and the THF to water volume ratio. The structure of polymer nanoparticles and networks formed in low water content systems was examined. The size of the nanoparticles and whether separated nanoparticles vs. an interconnected network was formed was controlled via solvent composition. Importantly, both the nanoparticles and network phases contained their own inherent nanostructure due to local phase separation of the block copolymers. This phase behavior within the nanoparticles could be tuned, i.e. porous or lamellar internal structure, by changing the valency of the amine counterion. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM), traditional TEM, and neutron scattering were used to examine these samples. In addition to these triblock copolymers, amphiphilic diblock copolypeptides of hydrophobic leucine (L) and hydrophilic lysine (K) with poly(ethylene glycol) side groups were investigated. The effect of the copolypeptide design on the resulting morphology was studied by examining diblock compositions with different block lengths and secondary structures. It was determined that the secondary structure of these peptides plays a significant role in influencing the assembly of these materials.

Download or read book Block Copolymer Self assembly written by Gayashani Kanchana Ginige and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Molecular self-assembly is the basis of structure in nature. While of far less complexity than a natural system, the same physical rules apply to simple synthetic designed systems that spontaneously form self-assembled structures and patterns. The self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) is an interesting example, as it can be harnessed to form both 2D (in thin films) and 3D (in bulk) porous and chemically controlled morphologies at scale. The self-assembly of BCPs on surfaces is of interest for a range of applications, but due to the enormous economic driver that is the computer industry, this direction has been pushed most strongly. Self-assembly of BCPs has been described in the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (the ITRS, and now the IDRS) for almost two decades for lithography on semiconductors and for patterning the magnetic material of hard drives. As a result, there has been much academic interest, both fundamental and applied, to meet the challenges as outlined in the ITRS/IDRS due to the promise of this scalable and low-cost nanopatterning approach. More recently, the remarkable work harnessing BCP self-assembly has been directed to other applications, one being optical metamaterials; this thesis will add to this growing body of science. One aspect holding BCP self-assembly back is the defectivity in the patterned material or surface; some applications are more defect tolerant than others, but hard drive and other computer-industry applications have very low tolerance for defects. It is, therefore, important to have systematic control over the self-assembly process as well as quality of the final patterns generated by BCP self-assembly for these applications and others not yet imagined. This thesis examines the defectivity of the hexagonal nanoscale patterns derived from BCP self-assembly and looks at extending them to produce nanoscale patterns of native and non-native morphologies that have plasmonic properties. This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part deals with optimization of solvent vapor annealing of BCP self-assembly, the critical step in which the actual nanoscale phase segregation takes place; in this case, it uses a controlled solvent vapor flow annealing apparatus, design of experiment and machine learning approaches. In this work, it was discovered that slight variations in the initial film thickness on the order of even a couple of nanometers and the final swelling degree have a huge influence on the defectivity and the quality of the resulting patterns. Next, machine learning approaches are applied to compile qualitative and quantitative defect analysis into a single figure of merit that is mapped across an experimental parameter space. This approach enables faster convergence of results to arrive at the optimum annealing conditions for the annealing of thin films of BCPs of PS-b-PDMS that generate nanoscale hexagonal patterns of silica dots with a minimum number of defects. In the second part of the thesis, mixed metal/oxide double layer patterning was studied using sequential self-assembly of BCPs. The second part of the thesis starts with optimization of reactive ion etching (RIE) for producing single layer metal nanopatterns from metal ion-loaded thin films of PS-b-P2VP BCPs to generate single layers of hexagonal metal nanopatterns that can withstand a second consecutive reactive ion etching step. The goal of this work is to enable density doubled and/or Moiré pattern formation via self-assembly of a second layer of BCP on the initial pattern prepared by self assembly of either the same or different BCP, as will be described in Chapter 4. Therefore, the initial pattern produced via BCP self-assembly and RIE etching would need to withstand a second treatment step of BCP self-assembly and RIE. While single layer nanopatterns of Au and Pt nanoparticles can be produced without much trouble, these resulting patterns could not be applied for density multiplication of metal-metal nanopatterns since the metal dots become too small and disordered. To demonstrate that metal nanoparticles derived from BCPs could be used, at least, to produce a mixed metal oxide/metal patterns, arrays of SiOx dots were first produced from PS-b-PDMS BCPs and then layered a BCP of PS-b-P2VP that was subsequently loaded with gold or platinum ions. Upon RIE etching, the BCP is removed and the SiOx/Au or Pt nanoparticle arrays were produced. Based upon the outcomes of the optimization of the etching work, mixed Au-Pt commensurate and incommensurate hexagonal lattice patterns were produced on both silicon and quartz substrates. Finally, the optical properties of these mixed metal Pt-Au bilayer patterns were studied. They demonstrated interesting plasmonic properties of the bilayer patterns, including consistent observation of extended plasmon bands that suggest coupling of the localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of the gold nanoparticles through proximal platinum nanoparticles when arrayed in periodic patterns.

Download or read book Anisotropic Nanomaterials written by Quan Li and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-06-09 with total page 513 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book anisotropic one-dimensional and two-dimensional nanoscale building blocks and their assembly into fascinating and qualitatively new functional structures embracing both hard and soft components are explained. Contributions from leading experts regarding important aspects like synthesis, assembly, properties and applications of the above materials are compiled into a reference book. The anisotropy, i.e. the direction-dependent physical properties, of materials is fascinating and elegant and has sparked the quest for anisotropic materials with useful properties. With such a curiosity, material scientists have ventured into the realm of nanometer length scale and have explored the anisotropic nanoscale building blocks such as metallic and nonmetallic particles as well as organic molecular aggregates. It turns out that the anisotropic nanoscale building blocks, in addition to direction-dependent properties, exhibit dimension and morphology dependence of physical properties. Moreover, ordered arrays of anisotropic nanoscale building blocks furnish novel properties into the resulting system which would be entirely different from the properties of individual ones. Undoubtedly, these promising properties have qualified them as enabling building blocks of 21st century materials science, nanoscience and nanotechnology. Readers will find this book professionally valuable and intellectually stimulating in the rapidly emerging area of anisotropic nanomaterials. Quan Li, Ph.D., is Director of the Organic Synthesis and Advanced Materials Laboratory at the Liquid Crystal Institute of Kent State University, where he is also Adjunct Professor in the Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program. He has directed research projects funded by US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFSOR), US Army Research Office (ARO), US Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (DoD MURI), US National Science Foundation (NSF), US Department of Energy (DOE), US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ohio Third Frontier, and Samsung Electronics, among others.

Download or read book Polymer Colloids written by Rodney Priestley and published by Royal Society of Chemistry. This book was released on 2019-12-02 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Academic and industrial research around polymer-based colloids is huge, driven both by the development of mature technologies, e.g. latexes for coatings, as well as the advancement of new materials and applications, such as building blocks for 2D/3D structures and medicine. Edited by two world-renowned leaders in polymer science and engineering, this is a fundamental text for the field. Based on a specialised course by the editors, this book provides the reader with an invaluable single source of reference. The first section describes formation, explaining basic properties of emulsions and dispersion polymerization, microfluidic approaches to produce polymer-based colloids and formation via directed self-assembly. The next section details characterisation methodologies from microscopy and small angle scattering, to surface science and simulations. The final chapters close with applications, including Pickering emulsions and molecular engineering for materials development. A comprehensive guide to polymer colloids, with contributions by leaders in their respective areas, this book is a must-have for researchers and practitioners working across polymers, soft matter and chemical and molecular engineering.

Download or read book Solvent Vapor Assisted Self Assembly of Patternable Block Copolymers written by Joan K. Bosworth and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Block copolymer self assembly presents a method for patterning and templating applications on the 10-50 nm length scale, a smaller scale than can be easily achieved by photolithography. Here we investigate the use of functionalized polar-nonpolar block copolymers both as photopatternable self-assembling materials and for selective infiltration of one block for patterning. Block copolymer thin films with defect-free self-assembled morphology over large domains combined with careful control of the orientation of the morphology are critical for these patterning applications. Self assembly of block copolymers is facilitated by polymer chain mobility, commonly achieved by heating block copolymer films above the glass transition temperature of the blocks. However, many block copolymer systems, including those discussed here, are thermally incompatible. Swelling in a solvent vapor, called solvent annealing, provides sufficient mobility for self assembly. Solvent annealing proved critical to forming ordered structures of functional polar-nonpolar block copolymer thin films. Thermal instability initially led to limited self assembly of combined topdown/bottom-up block copolymer systems. In this case, photolithographic functionality has been designed into block copolymers, allowing the majority component of a block copolymer to behave as a negative-tone photoresist. Solvent vapor annealing has provided a simple and inexpensive method for allowing the bottom-up self assembly of these top-down photopatternable materials. An additional benefit of solvent annealing is the ability to reversibly tune the morphology formed using the selectivity of different swelling solvents to the two blocks: that is, the choice of solvent for annealing directs the formation of different morphologies in the dried film, here spherical and cylindrical. This behavior is reversible, alternating annealing sessions lead to switching of the morphology in the film. Secondary ordering techniques applied in tandem with solvent annealing can be used to further control the self assembly and give highly ordered block copolymer domains. Here we demonstrate the use of graphoepitaxy to align block copolymer self assembly to patterns in substrates. The combination of block copolymer self assembly with lithographic crosslinking in films was initially pursued to allow precise location of assembled patterns. Taking this behavior a step further, we combine solvent annealing, used to reversibly tune the self-assembled morphology, and lithographic patterning, used to prevent switching in exposed regions. This combined process has provided a method for selectively patterning 100 nm-wide domains of spherical morphology within regions of parallel-oriented cylindrical morphology. We also investigate solvent annealing of a block copolymer blended with a hydrogen bonding material that selectively segregates into the polar block. Blending provides a method of tuning the periodicity upon solvent annealing for self assembly, with morphology control again possible by solvent selectivity. Selective extraction of the blended material forms voids displaying the tunable periodicity, and the pattern is then transferred by templating to inorganic materials.

Download or read book Controlling the Microstructure and Kinetics of Block Copolymer Self assembly by Direct Immersion Annealing written by Melanie J. Longanecker and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The self-assembly of block copolymers into periodic nanostructures has long been studied for their potential use in integrated circuits, nanofiltration devices, metamaterials, energy and data storage devices, and many more applications. Their use, however, is limited by a number of structural and kinetics challenges. The present research describes how a recently developed annealing technique, direct immersion annealing, can be used to address these challenges. The mechanism that leads to a change in domain size of up to 64% for a single molecular weight during direct immersion annealing is examined for one, two, and three-dimensional morphologies. It was found that the chain orientation within a structure has a significant impact on the structural rearrangements that occur as the result of constrained swelling. This leads to a reduction of the domain size for out-of-plane structure and an increase in domain size for in-plane structure. The non-equilibrium state of the morphology that leads to the reduced domain size leaves the chains in a non-equilibrium conformation that deviates from the tear-drop shape traditionally observed in block copolymers. SANS analysis confirms that the chains take on a flattened disc-like shape in this state. The solvent presence during direct immersion annealing also presents the ability to tune the interaction parameter of the block, where it is shown that the diffuse interface between domains can be improved by 27% using a selective solvent. The kinetics of direct immersion annealing are examined for its ability to order neat and filled block copolymer systems in rapid times. It was found that direct immersion annealing can order much faster than solvent vapor annealing due to the difference in chemical potential of bulk solvent vs. vapors. This has a significant impact on the film swelling rate, where a film submerged in bulk solvent during direct immersion annealing swells to its equilibrium thickness instantaneously, while the vapor annealed film had still not reached equilibrium after 4 h. Further, it was determined that the rapid ordering kinetics of direct immersion annealing are limited to the molecular weight regime where chains are unentangled. At higher molecular weights, the ordering diffusion coefficient scales as N-2.9.

Download or read book Modeling Self assembly and Structure property Relationships in Block Copolymers written by Manas Ravindra Shah and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Block copolymers have been subject of tremendous research interest owing to their capability of undergoing self-assembly which allows them to tailor their electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Statistical mechanics of flexible block copolymers is well understood. However, there are many unresolved issues with confinement of block copolymers as well as structure formation in block copolymers having non-flexible polymer blocks. We develop mean field theory models to address the issues arising in thermodynamics of such complex block copolymers. Also, we develop theoretical formalisms to understand the link between morphology and macroscopic properties in these block copolymers. We study the stability and ordering in thin films of flexible diblock copolymer in the presence of compressible solvent using a combined polymer mean field theory and lattice gas model for binary fluid mixtures. We utilize mean field theory model to understand the self-assembly behavior in side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymers which involve interplay between microphase separation and liquid crystalline ordering of side chain mesogenic units. We extend the field theoretic models for block copolymer to account for self-assembly in semicrystalline block copolymers. The semicrystalline chain is modeled as a semiflexible chain having non-bonded attractions between parallel bonds. We characterize the structure formation in such block copolymers as a function of the rigidity of the semicrystalline chain. Then we extend the formalism to study semicrystalline triblock and pentablock copolymers and evaluate bridging fractions in different sequences of semicrystalline multiblock copolymers. Rod-coil block copolymers have a flexible polymer covalently linked to rigid polymer. Such polymers have potential applications as organic LEDs and photovoltaic devices. We study the self-assembly of such block copolymer under confinement. To make these block copolymers viable as photovoltaic devices, we performed the photovoltaic modeling of devices based on self-assembly of block copolymers. We characterize the interplay between self-assembly and anisotropy of charge transport (arising due to rigid polymer chains) in determining the eventual photovoltaic properties.