title: Novel lift-off technique for Transmission Electron Microscopy imaging of block copolymer films.
abstract: We have developed a simple technique to allow for the lift-off and subsequent transfer of poly(styrene-block-ethylene glycol) films to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) grids. The block copolymer is spin coated onto carbon coated mica and annealed. After the thin film is produced it can easily be floated onto water and picked up by a TEM grid. This method offers better control over film processing than dip coating the TEM grid and is also a significant improvement over methods using etchants such as hydrofluoric acid.
authors.affiliation: MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Fergus J M
authors.initials: FJM
authors.lastname: Roache
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mazdak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radjainia
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Juliet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gerrard
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Travas-Sejdic
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand. Electronic address: j.malmstrom@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malmstrӧm
keywords: Block copolymer; Nanopattern; Thin film; Transmission Electron Microscopy