QUENCHED DEGREES OF FREEDOM IN SYMMETRICAL DIBLOCK COPOLYMER THIN-FILMS

We studied the effect of monomer immobilization (quenching) on the ori entation of the lamellae in symmetric diblock copolymer thin films wit h neutrally wetting surfaces. A small fraction of the monomers immedia tely next to the solid substrate is presumed to be quenched. Our calcu lations demonstrate that quenching favors the lamellae orienting perpe ndicular to the film. Quenching inhibits the order-disorder transition twice as much for the parallel orientation as for the perpendicular o rientation.