The periodic domains formed by block copolymer melts have been heralded as potential scaffolds for arranging nanoparticles in 3D space, provided we can control the positioning of the particles. Recent experiments have located particles at the domain interfaces by grafting mixed brushes to their surfaces. Here the underlying mechanism, which involves the transformation into Janus particles, is investigated with self-consistent field theory using a new multi-coordinate-system algorithm.

• Received 3 November 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.078303