Reordering Transitions during Annealing of Block Copolymer Cylinder Phases
Citation
Majewski, P.W.; Yager, K.G. "Reordering Transitions during Annealing of Block Copolymer Cylinder Phases"
Soft Matter 2016,
12 281–294.
doi: 10.1039/C5SM02441BSummary
We explore the existence of several transient states in the ordering of block-copolymer cylinder phases.
Abstract
While equilibrium block-copolymer morphologies are dictated by energy-minimization effects, the semi-ordered states observed experimentally often depend on the details of ordering pathways and kinetics. Here, we explore reordering transitions in thin films of block-copolymer cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). We observe several transient states as films order towards horizontally-aligned cylinders. In particular, there is an early-stage reorganization from randomly-packed cylinders into hexagonally-packed vertically-aligned cylinders; followed by a reorientation transition from vertical to horizontal cylinder states. These transitions are thermally activated. The growth of horizontal grains within an otherwise vertical morphology proceeds anisotropically, resulting in anisotropic grains in the final horizontal state. The size, shape, and anisotropy of grains are influenced by ordering history; for instance, faster heating rates reduce grain anisotropy. These results help elucidate aspects of pathway-dependent ordering in block-copolymer thin films.
