Block copolymer (BCP) represents a special type of polymeric system where each of the polymer chains is composed of two or more chemically distinct homopolymer blocks that are covalently tethered together. Materials made of BCPs are used predominantly in their bulk form, and more recently are finding increasing applications as thin films. The nanoscale feature of patterned BCP thin films makes them ideal for emerging nanotechnologies, including microelectronics, magnetic storage, solar cells, optics and acoustics. Technologies relevant to transfer structure formed by the self-assembly of BCP thin films into patterning applications crucially rely on the precise control of structural orientation, local alignment and long-range ordering. In this article, we review experimental and theoretical progress in tailoring mesoscopic and nanoscopic structures of BCP thin film by using external fields, focusing in particular on the underlying physics of directed self-assembly mechanism. We also review the basic framework of the conventional polymer field-theory and the corresponding numerical solution schemes for the study of BCP thin films, including self-consistent field theory, complex Langevin simulation, dynamical self-consistent field theory, and string methods. Related particle-based simulations are also briefly reviewed. Finally, we provide some experimental and theoretical insights into the next generation of strategies for obtaining desired BCP thin film patterns and their applications in industry.

嵌段共聚物 (BCP) 代表一种特殊类型的聚合物系统，其中每个聚合物链由两个或多个化学上不同的均聚物嵌段共价连接在一起。由 BCP 制成的材料主要以块状形式使用，最近发现作为薄膜的应用越来越多。图案化 BCP 薄膜的纳米级特征使其成为新兴纳米技术的理想选择，包括微电子、磁存储、太阳能电池、光学和声学。与将 BCP 薄膜自组装形成的结构转移到图案化应用相关的技术关键依赖于结构取向、局部对齐和远程排序的精确控制。在本文中，我们回顾了通过使用外部场来定制 BCP 薄膜的介观和纳米结构的实验和理论进展，特别关注定向自组装机制的基础物理学。我们还回顾了常规聚合物场理论的基本框架和 BCP 薄膜研究的相应数值求解方案，包括自洽场理论、复杂朗之​​万模拟、动力学自洽场理论和弦方法。还简要回顾了相关的基于粒子的模拟。最后，我们为获得所需 BCP 薄膜图案的下一代策略及其在工业中的应用提供了一些实验和理论见解。特别关注定向自组装机制的基础物理学。我们还回顾了常规聚合物场理论的基本框架和 BCP 薄膜研究的相应数值求解方案，包括自洽场理论、复杂朗之​​万模拟、动力学自洽场理论和弦方法。还简要回顾了相关的基于粒子的模拟。最后，我们为获得所需 BCP 薄膜图案的下一代策略及其在工业中的应用提供了一些实验和理论见解。特别关注定向自组装机制的基础物理学。我们还回顾了常规聚合物场理论的基本框架和 BCP 薄膜研究的相应数值求解方案，包括自洽场理论、复杂朗之​​万模拟、动力学自洽场理论和弦方法。还简要回顾了相关的基于粒子的模拟。最后，我们为获得所需 BCP 薄膜图案的下一代策略及其在工业中的应用提供了一些实验和理论见解。复杂的朗之万模拟、动态自洽场论和弦方法。还简要回顾了相关的基于粒子的模拟。最后，我们为获得所需 BCP 薄膜图案的下一代策略及其在工业中的应用提供了一些实验和理论见解。复杂的朗之万模拟、动态自洽场论和弦方法。还简要回顾了相关的基于粒子的模拟。最后，我们为获得所需 BCP 薄膜图案的下一代策略及其在工业中的应用提供了一些实验和理论见解。