Physical Aspects of Polymer Self-Assembly

Offering an overview of principles and techniques, this book covers all major categories of self-assembled polymers – properties, processes, and design. Each chapter focuses on morphology, applications, and advanced concepts to illustrate the advantages of polymer self-assembly across industrial and academic research. • Provides an organized, comprehensive overview of polymer self-assembly, its fundamentals, principles, and applications • Includes chapters on block copolymers, amphiphilic polymers, supramolecular polymers, rotaxenes, polymer gels, dendrimers, and small molecules in polymer matrices • Focuses on novel applications, block copolymer assembly to nanotechnology, photonics and metamaterials, molecular machines and artificial muscle, gels that can be applied to polymer science, materials science, and nanotechnology • Examines state-of-the-art concepts, like lithographic patterning and foldaxane • Discusses challenges and future outlook of a popular and emerging field of study