The ability of block copolymer self-assemble into well-ordered structures on nanometer scale has captured much attention of scientists and technologists over the past decades from both experimental and theoretical owing to the potential applications of the structures in data storage

electronics

combinatorial chemistry

masks

and membranes

etc. The applied ordered nanostructures of block copolymer thin film is the perpendicular ones. However

it is a challenge to manipulate the process of the self-assembly of block copolymer thin film to obtain perpendicular ordered nanostructures and enable a broad range of applications. Here

some well-studied approaches in orienting the microdomains normal to the substrates in block copolymer thin films have been reviewed and the orientation mechanisms of some typical block copolymer thin films have been analyzed. Based on the approaches

an outlook of the controlling of the microdomains orientation has been prospected.