Modelling micelle formation in confined geometries

We use numerical self consistent field calculations to determine the effect continement has on the critical micelle concentration for diblock copolyme rs. Our studies show that increasing the confinement increases the free ene rgy of micelle formation. As the confinement increases, the micelle undergo es a decrease in its size. until finally the entropic losses associated wit h packing the copolymer into a smaller micelle become too large and the mic elle structure becomes unstable. Our results have important implications wh en diblock copolymers are used as compatibilizers in thin films, as our stu dies indicate that micelle formation will be suppressed in thin films.