Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers in Thin Films Swollen-Rich in Solvent Vapors
Iulia Babutan, Otto Todor-Boer, Leonard Ionuț Atanase, Adriana Vulpoi, Ioan Botiz
Abstract
In this study we have employed a polymer processing method based on solvent vapor annealing in order to condense relatively large amounts of solvent vapors onto thin films of block copolymers and thus to promote their self-assembly into ordered nanostructures. As revealed by the atomic force microscopy, a periodic lamellar morphology of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-polybutadiene and an ordered morphology comprised of hexagonally-packed structures made of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) were both successfully generated on solid substrates for the first time.
Topics & Concepts
CopolymerLamellar structurePolybutadieneMaterials scienceAnnealing (glass)SolventPolymer chemistryThin filmPolymerChemical engineeringSelf-assemblyMorphology (biology)NanostructureMethacrylateNanotechnologyComposite materialChemistryOrganic chemistryGeneticsBiologyEngineeringBlock Copolymer Self-AssemblyAdvanced Polymer Synthesis and CharacterizationPolymer Surface Interaction Studies