Structure control of liquid crystalline block copolymers in liquid⁃phase self⁃assembly

Liquid crystallization can be used as an external driving force to be introduced into the block copolymer self-assembly system to control the anisotropic morphology of the aggregates. The main chain type liquid crystalline has strong rigidity, so the polymerization is difficult. But the flexible spacer of the side-chain liquid crystalline is adjustable, and is suitable for living polymerization, so the self-assembly behavior of the side chain type liquid crystalline block copolymer has received extensive attention. In this review, combined with the liquid-phase self-assembly method of block copolymer aggregates, we summarize the research on the structure control of the side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymer solution self-assembly from the aspects of liquid crystalline mesogenic types, liquid crystalline phases state and their functionalizations. Finally, this review summarizes the limitations of the research work related to the self-assembly of side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymers, and looks forward to its development trends.