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A solution concentration dependent transition from self-stratification to lateral phase separation in spin-cast PS:d-PMMA thin films

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posted on 2011-11-11, 10:20 authored by Alan Dunbar, P. Mokarian-Tabari, Andrew J. Parnell, Simon MartinSimon Martin, M.W.A. Skoda, R.A.L. Jones
Thin films with a rich variety of different nano-scale morphologies have been produced by spin casting solutions of various concentrations of PS:d-PMMA blends from toluene solutions. During the spin casting process specular reflectivity and off-specular scattering data were recorded and ex situ optical and atomic force microscopy, neutron reflectivity and ellipsometry have all been used to characterise the film morphologies. We show that it is possible to selectively control the film morphology by altering the solution concentration used. Low polymer concentration solutions favour the formation of flat in-plane phase-separated bi-layers, with a d-PMMA-rich layer underneath a PS-rich layer. At intermediate concentrations the films formed consist of an in-plane phase-separated bi-layer with an undulating interface and also have some secondary phase-separated pockets rich in d-PMMA in the PS-rich layer and vice versa. Using high concentration solutions results in laterally phase-separated regions with sharp interfaces. As with the intermediate concentrations, secondary phase separation was also observed, especially at the top surface.

History

School

  • Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Department

  • Materials

Citation

DUNBAR, A.D.F., MOKARIAN-TABARI, P., PARNELL, A.J. ... et al., 2010. A solution concentration dependent transition from self-stratification to lateral phase separation in spin-cast PS:d-PMMA thin films. European Physical Journal E, 31 (4), pp. 369-375.

Publisher

© Springer

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2010

Notes

This article was published in the journal, European Physical Journal E: Soft Matter and Biological Physics [© Springer] and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10592-4

Language

  • en

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