title: Electric-field-induced alignment of block copolymer/nanoparticle blends.
abstract: External electric fields readily align birefringent block-copolymer mesophases. In this study the effect of gold nanoparticles on the electric-field-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-field-assisted alignment of nanostructured block copolymer/nanoparticle composites may offer a simple way to greatly mitigate structural and orientational defects of such films under benign experimental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Materials and Surfaces, RWTH Aachen University and DWI an der RWTH, Aachen e.V., Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liedel
authors.forename: Kerstin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Mariela J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Christian W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pester
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruppel
authors.forename: Volker S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shenhar
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böker
keywords: alignment; block copolymers; electric field; nanocomposites; nanoparticles