Lateral phase separation in grafted diblock copolymer films

Benjamin M D O'Driscoll, Guy H. Griffiths, Mark W. Matsen, Sébastien Perrier, Vincent Ladmiral, Ian W. Hamley

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tethered films of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers of varying composition and molecular weight were investigated using atomic force microscopy and the observed structures compared with theoretical predictions. Although the experimental results were in qualitative agreement with the theory, there was significant quantitative variation. This was attributed to the presence of solvent in the films prior to and during annealing, a hypothesis supported by new preliminary calculations reported here. Solvent exchange experiments (where a good solvent for both polymer blocks was gradually replaced by a selective solvent), were also performed on the films. This procedure generated textured films in which the structure was defined by miscibility of the polymer blocks with the second solvent.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8177-8184
Number of pages8
JournalMacromolecules
Volume43
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

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