Coupling between mean curvature and textures in block copolymer thin films deposited on curved substrates

Daniel A. Vega, Leopoldo R. Gómez, Aldo D. Pezzutti, Flavio Pardo, Paul M. Chaikin, Richard A. Register

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We study the dynamics of coarsening in a cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) block copolymer thin film deposited on a topographically patterned substrate. Thermal annealing leads to highly ordered arrays of polystyrene cylinders embedded in the poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) matrix, lying in-plane and oriented perpendicular to the trenches of the substrate. We show that this configuration corresponds to an equilibrium state. The coupling between the block copolymer morphology and the mean curvature of the substrate is dictated by the out-of-plane deformations of the block copolymer structure. Thus, with appropriate control over the substrate features, it should be possible to obtain novel structures with controlled orientation.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)9385-9391
    Number of pages7
    JournalSoft Matter
    Volume9
    Issue number39
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Oct 21 2013

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Chemistry(all)
    • Condensed Matter Physics

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