Self-assembly of diblock copolymers under shear flow: A simulation study by combining the self-consistent field and lattice Boltzmann method

In this paper, we study the self-assembly of diblock copolymers under shear flow by combining the self-consistent field (SCF) and lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. We perform LB and SCF simulations in the same lattice, and set SCF simulation results as the input of LB, and then feedback the LB results to SCF simulation. This process is repeated until the system reaches an equilibrium state. This combined simulation method has the advantages of both LB and SCF simulations. It can thus be used to study the self-assembly of a defined copolymer in a real shear flow field. The simulative results imply that the self-assembled morphology of diblock copolymers under shear flow depends on the shear rate and shear frequency. The results correlate well with the experiment. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.