Surface structure of thin asymmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers investigated by atomic force microscopy

Khaydarov, A., Hamley, I. W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4549-0926, Legge, T. and Perrier, S. (2007) Surface structure of thin asymmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers investigated by atomic force microscopy. European Polymer Journal, 43 (3). pp. 789-796. ISSN 0014-3057 doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2006.10.006

Abstract/Summary

Asymmetric poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers of molecular weight M-n = 29,700g mol(-1) (M-PS = 9300 g mol(-1) M-PMMA = 20,100 g mol(-1), PD = 1.15, chi(PS) = 0.323, chi(PMMA) = 0.677) and M-n = 63,900 g mol(-1) (M-PS = 50,500 g mol(-1), M-PMMA = 13,400 g mol(-1), PD = 1.18, chi(PS) = 0.790, chi(PMMA) = 0.210) were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface structure of thin films, prepared by spin-coating the diblock copolymers on a silicon substrate. We show that the nanostructure of the diblock copolymer depends on the molecular weight and volume fraction of the diblock copolymers. We observed a perpendicular lamellar structure for the high molar mass sample and a hexagonal-packed cylindrical patterning for the lower molar mass one. Small-angle X-ray scattering investigation of these samples without annealing did not reveal any ordered structure. Annealing of PS-b-PMMA samples at 160 degrees C for 24 h led to a change in surface structure.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/16615
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2006.10.006
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry
Publisher	Elsevier
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