Two-dimensional melting transition observed in a block copolymer

D. E. Angelescu, C. K. Harrison, M. L. Trawick, R. A. Register, P. M. Chaikin

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We report the observation of two-dimensional melting in a monolayer film of a sphere-forming diblock copolymer. By annealing in a well-controlled temperature gradient we obtain a complete record of the transition from a low-temperature hexatic phase to a high-temperature liquid in a single experiment. We investigate the temperature dependence of the orientational and translational correlation lengths, as well as of the topological defect density. All evidence suggests that the melting transition is first-order, but correlations in the liquid phase indicate the existence of an underlying second-order transition preempted by the first-order freezing.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number025702
    JournalPhysical Review Letters
    Volume95
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jul 8 2005

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Physics and Astronomy

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