Block Copolymer Morphology Formation on Topographically Complex Surfaces: A Self‐Consistent Field Theoretical Study

Ye, Xianggui; Edwards, Brian J.; Khomami, Bamin

doi:10.1002/marc.201300800

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…On the theoretical side [33][34][35][36][37][38], previous works have been mainly devoted to study the transition between parallel to perpendicular lamellar phases in presence of a substrate. Most of these studies have been done in two dimensions and cannot address the important experimental issues related to inplane alignment, which intrinsically requires a 3D study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It seems from the above-mentioned experimental studies − , that, at present, there is only partial success in aligning defect-free lamellar forming BCP films as induced by substrate corrugation. On the theoretical side, − previous works have been mainly devoted to study the transition between parallel to perpendicular lamellar phases in the presence of a substrate. Most of these studies have been done in two dimensions and cannot address the important experimental issues related to in-plane alignment, which intrinsically requires a 3D study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Defect-Free Perpendicular Diblock Copolymer Films: The Synergy Effect of Surface Topography and Chemistry

Man¹,

Zhou

Tang³

et al. 2016

Macromolecules

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We propose a direct self-assembly mechanism towards obtaining defect-free perpendicular lamellar phases of diblock copolymer (BCP) thin films. In our numerical study, a thin BCP film having a flat top surface is casted on a uni-directional corrugated solid substrate. The substrate is treated chemically and has a weak preference toward one of the two BCP components. Employing self-consistent field theory (SCFT), we find that there is an enhanced synergy between two substrate characteristics: its topography (geometrical roughness) combined with a weak surface preference. This synergy produces the desired perpendicular lamellar phase with perfect inplane ordering. Defect-free BCP lamellar phases are reproducible for several random initial states, and are obtained for a range of substrate roughness and chemical characteristics, even for a uni-directional multi-mode substrate roughness. Our theoretical study suggests possible experiments that will explore the interplay between uni-directional substrate corrugation and chemical surface treatment. It may lead to viable and economical ways of obtaining BCP films with defect-free lateral alignment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defect-Free Perpendicular Diblock Copolymer Films: The Synergy Effect of Surface Topography and Chemistry

Man¹,

Zhou

Tang³

et al. 2016

Macromolecules

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“…Motivated by previous experimental works [17], Ranjan et al [22] conducted a scaling analysis of a single BCP lamella on fractal surfaces, which gives additional evidence that the substrate fractal dimension is an important factor in directing the orientation of BCP lamellae. Even more recently, Ye et al [23] studied morphological properties of lamellae-forming di-BCPs on substrates with square-wave grating patterns by using selfconsistent field theory (SCFT). They found three possible lamellar orientations with respect to the substrate and trench direction, but without addressing the key factors that determine the critical substrate roughness at the parallel-to-perpendicular phase-transition of BCP microdomains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lamellar Diblock Copolymers on Rough Substrates: Self-Consistent Field Theory Studies

Man¹,

Tang²,

Zhou

et al. 2015

Macromolecules

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We present numerical calculations of lamellar phases of diblock copolymers (BCP) confined between two surfaces, where the top surface is flat and the bottom one is corrugated. The corrugated substrate is assumed to have a single q-mode of lateral undulations with a wavenumber q s and amplitude R. We focus on the effects of substrate roughness, parametrized by the dimensionless quantity, q s R, on the relative stability between parallel and perpendicular orientations of the lamellar phase. The competition between film confinement, energy cost of elastic deformation, and gain in surface energy induces a parallel-to-perpendicular transition of the BCP lamellae. Employing self-consistent field theory (SCFT), we study the critical value, (q s R)*, corresponding to this transition. The (q s R)* value increases as a function of the surface preference toward one of the two BCP components and as a function of film thickness. But, (q s R)* decreases with increasing values of the Flory−Huggins parameter, Nχ AB . Our findings are equivalent to stating that the critical (q s R)* value decreases as the BCP molecular weight or the natural BCP periodicity increases. We further show that the rough substrate can overcome the formation of parallel lamellae in cases where the top surface has a preference toward one of the two BCP components. Our results are in good agreement with previous experiments and highlight the physical conditions behind the perpendicular orientation of lamellar phases, as is desired in nanolithography and other industrial applications.

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“…Much more can be done on confinement of anisotropic colloids [57], lock-key colloids [37], or block copolymers [58]. Controlled wall roughness [59] can also affect the confined microstructure. There is certainly room for further contributions, especially in the field of self-assembly in confined spaces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wall–particle interactions and depletion forces in narrow slits

Moncho-Jordá

Odriozola

2015

Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science

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Block Copolymer Morphology Formation on Topographically Complex Surfaces: A Self‐Consistent Field Theoretical Study

Cited by 8 publications

References 50 publications

Defect-Free Perpendicular Diblock Copolymer Films: The Synergy Effect of Surface Topography and Chemistry

Defect-Free Perpendicular Diblock Copolymer Films: The Synergy Effect of Surface Topography and Chemistry

Lamellar Diblock Copolymers on Rough Substrates: Self-Consistent Field Theory Studies

Wall–particle interactions and depletion forces in narrow slits

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