Nanopattern of diblock copolymers selectively adsorbed on a plane surface

Citation
Ii. Potemkin et al., Nanopattern of diblock copolymers selectively adsorbed on a plane surface, LANGMUIR, 15(21), 1999, pp. 7290-7298
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics
Journal title
LANGMUIR
ISSN journal
07437463 → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
21
Year of publication
1999
Pages
7290 - 7298
Database
ISI
SICI code
0743-7463(19991012)15:21<7290:NODCSA>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
Surface interaction controlled microphase separation leading to the formati on of chemically heterogeneous surface nanopatterns in dry ultrathin films of A-B diblock copolymers is studied experimentally and theoretically in th e strong segregation limit. On a planar surface one of the blocks (A block) is strongly adsorbed, forming a tightly bound monomolecular layer (two-dim ensional melt). The nonadsorbed B blocks can aggregate due to incompatibili ty with the A-block layer on the substrate and with the air. As a result, a chemically heterogeneous surface pattern can emerge. Depending on the bloc k length ratio and the interaction parameters, the dewetting B blocks can a ssemble to either globular surface micelles or wormlike surface aggregates, that is, a point or a striped surface pattern. The region of stability of these morphologies and the main parameters, such as aggregation number, siz e, and periodicity, of the surface micelles and wormlike surface aggregates have been determined as functions of the lengths of the blocks and the int eraction energies of the blocks with each other and with the air. The phase diagram is compared with experimental data for poly(styrene)-block-poly(4- vinylpyridine) on mica.