Electric-Field-Induced Alignment of Block Copolymer/Nanoparticle Blends

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Small

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201202380· OSTI ID:1121197

Liedel, Clemens ^[1]; Schindler, Kerstin ^[1]; Pavan, Mariela J. ^[2]; Lewin, Christian ^[1]; Pester, Christian W ^[3]; Ruppel, Markus A ^[3]; Urban, Volker S ^[3]; Shenhar, Roy ^[2]; Boker, Alexander ^[1]

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1. RWTH Aachen University
2. Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3. ORNL

External electric fi elds readily align birefringent block-copolymer mesophases. In this study the effect of gold nanoparticles on the electric-fi eld-induced alignment of a lamellae-forming polystyrene- block -poly(2-vinylpyridine) copolymer is assessed. Nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in the styrenic phase and promote the quantitative alignment of lamellar domains by substantially lowering the critical field strength above which alignment proceeds. The results suggest that the electric-fi eldassisted alignment of nanostructured block copolymer/nanoparticle composites may offer a simple way to greatly mitigate structural and orientational defects of such fi lms under benign experimental conditions.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1121197
• Journal Information: Small, Journal Name: Small Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 9; ISSN 1613-6810
• Publisher: Wiley
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English