Block copolymer morphology formation on topographically complex surfaces: a self-consistent field theoretical study.
A self-consistent field theoretic study is performed to study morphological development of lamellae-forming diblock copolymers on substrates with a well-defined roughness, modeled as trenches of varying depth and width engraved into the substrates. There are three possible lamellar orientations observed: horizontal lamellae, vertical lamellae that are parallel to the trench direction, and vertical lamellae that are perpendicular to the trench direction. Which of these three morphologies formed depends upon the trench width and surface affinity; however, trench depth has a relatively insignificant effect on the morphological development. Therefore, tuning trench width, but not trench depth, should allow for a reduction of the morphological defect density in directed self-assembly of lamellar morphology of diblock copolymers.
Materials Research and Innovation Laboratory (MRAIL), Sustainable Energy Education and Research Center (SEERC), Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA.
Xianggui
X
Ye
Brian J
BJ
Edwards
Bamin
B
Khomami
D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D011108:Polymers
block copolymer; directed self-assembly; microphase separation; substrate effect; surface roughness