Gradient approaches to the examination of surface energy effects on triblock copolymer thin films

CMA 5

Thomas H. Epps III, thepps@udel.edu1, Julie N. Lawson1, Thomas Scherr1, Dean M. DeLongchamp, dean.delongchamp@nist.gov2, and Michael J. Fasolka, michael.fasolka@nist.gov2. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 215 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716, (2) Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8541, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8541
The effect of surface energy on the thin film nanostructure of triblock copolymers was investigated using gradient techniques. Studies of triblock copolymer films along substrate surface energy gradient libraries indicated that the surface energy governed the composition profile of the copolymer wetting layer, which in turn influenced the stability of the remaining film. In several cases, this wetting layer composition profile led to autophobic dewetting of the overlying film. Block copolymer thin films also were investigated using selective solvent vapor gradient libraries over polymer films. These libraries were created using a fluorinated acrylate microfluidic device, consisting of a two-input solvent vapor mixing tree and several discrete solvent vapor flow channels. Studies along the gradient showed the expected results for channels at the extremities (representing approximately single component vapor streams); however, channels at intermediate vapor compositions displayed polymer nanostructures that were a function of vapor composition and distance along the channels.
 

Many Faces of Chemistry: ACS Scholars’ Contributions to the Chemical Sciences
8:30 AM-11:30 AM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Sheraton Boston -- Liberty A/B, Oral

Committee on Minority Affairs

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007