Structural ordering in thin films of cylinder forming block copolymers

PMSE 28

Larisa Tsarkova, larisa.tsarkova@uni-bayreuth.de1, Andriana Horvat, andriana.horvat@uni-bayreuth.de1, Georg Krausch1, and Robert Magerle2. (1) Physikalische Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, D-95440, Germany, (2) Chemische Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, D-09107, Germany
Dynamics of microdomain ordering in thin films of a cylinder forming polystyrene-block-bolybutadiene (SB) diblock copolymer melt is imaged directly in a fluid state. High temporal resolution of in-situ scanning force microscopy (SFM) allows for observation of elementary dynamic processes of structural rearrangements with the time scales ranging from seconds to hours. We reveal defects' annihilation pathways via interfacial undulations and formation of transient morphologies. The temporal phase transitions to non-bulk structures are reproduced in simulations based on the dynamic density functional theory.