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Lateral Ordering of Cylindrical Microdomains Under Solvent Vapor

Journal Article · · Macromolecules
OSTI ID:970413

The development of the morphology in asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PSb- P4VP) thin films in tetrahydrofuran (THF) vapor, a selective solvent for majority PS block, as a function of time was investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM) and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). When the PS-b-P4VP films were spin-coated from a toluene/THF mixture onto a silicon substrate, cylindrical microdomains were found to be oriented normal to the surface. By annealing under the THF solvent vapor, the distribution of the size and center-to-center distance between the cylindrical microdomains were significantly narrowed. The orientation and grain size of the cylindrical microdomains in the annealed films were characterized using Moire´ analysis obtained from SFM scan. GISAXS was used to characterize the morphology of the entire film.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Sponsoring Organization:
Doe - Office Of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
970413
Report Number(s):
BNL--90145-2009-JA; KC0202010
Journal Information:
Macromolecules, Journal Name: Macromolecules Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 42
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English