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Title: “Structurally Neutral” Densely Packed Homopolymer-Adsorbed Chains for Directed Self-Assembly of Block Copolymer Thin Films

Journal Article · · Macromolecules
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [4];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [4]; ORCiD logo [5]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Kyushu Univ. (Japan)
  2. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)
  3. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Yamagata Univ. (Japan)
  4. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  5. Kyushu Univ. (Japan)
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In this work adsorbed chains composed of one of the constituent blocks can be used as a new surface modification approach to induce perpendicularly oriented lamellar microdomains in block copolymer thin films. A nearly symmetric polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-block-PMMA) diblock copolymer was used as a model. Densely packed PS- or PMMA-adsorbed chains of about 2–3 nm in thickness (“polymer nanocoatings”) were deposited on silicon (Si) substrates using a solvent-rinsing approach. Spin-cast films of 40 or 60 nm-thick PS-block-PMMA (equivalent to two or three interdomain spacings) were subsequently deposited onto the PS or PMMA nanocoatings. Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering experiments revealed the formation of perpendicularly oriented lamellar microdomains within the entire films at 200 °C, where balanced interfacial interactions at the polymer–air interface were achieved. Furthermore, X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy studies demonstrated the dynamics of the fully standing lamellar microdomains in the melt, which are coupled to cooperative interdomain movement. We demonstrate that the “neutrality” of the nanocoating is attributed to its noninteractive property against both blocks. This “structurally neutral” property stops adsorption of the PS-block-PMMA chains on the bare Si substrate that causes the undesirable substrate field effect.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1558245
Report Number(s):
BNL-211995-2019-JAAM
Journal Information:
Macromolecules, Vol. 52, Issue 14; ISSN 0024-9297
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 9 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables (10)

Table 1(p. 5)table Table 1
Figure 1(p. 6)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 7)figure Figure 2
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Figure 4(p. 8)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 8)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 8)figure Figure 6
Figure 7(p. 9)figure Figure 7
Figure 8(p. 10)figure Figure 8
Figure 9(p. 10)figure Figure 9

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