Control of ZnO crystallization by a PEO-b-PMAA diblock copolymer

Abstract

Amphipolar diblock copolymers used as admixtures provide a unique effect on crystallization processes from solution. In an example given here, nucleation of ZnO crystals and growth of specific crystal faces is controlled by minute amounts of PEO-b-PMAA copolymers. A narrow crystal size distribution and retardation of growth parallel to [001] are observed in dependence on the concentration of the block copolymer, which is added in the ppm range.