Large-Scale Alignment of ABC Block Copolymer Microdomains via Solvent Vapor Treatment

Fukunaga, Kenji; Elbs, Hubert; Magerle, R.; Krausch, Georg

doi:10.1021/ma9910639

Cited by 217 publications

(253 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Although, thermal annealing has been shown to work well for a range of polymer films, the temperature window between the T g and the order-disorder transition temperature (ODT) for some polymer films is too narrow to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium [45]. A technique known as solvent annealing or swelling, first demonstrated by Kim et al [39] with polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (SBS) triblock copolymer, has received considerable attention over the last decade as an alternative to thermal annealing as it can not only induce microphase separation (orientation ordering) but also improve translational ordering [46].…”

Section: Block Copolymer (Bcp) Thin Filmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-assembled templates for the generation of arrays of 1-dimensional nanostructures: From molecules to devices

Farrell

Petkov²,

Morris

et al. 2010

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

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Self-assembled nanoscale porous architectures, such as mesoporous silica films (MPS), block copolymer films (BCP) and porous anodic aluminas (PAAs), are ideal hosts for templating one dimension (1 D) nano-entities for a wide range of electronic, photonic, magnetic and environmental applications. All three templates offer dimensional scalability and tunability over a wide range, with critical pore sizes for each system well below the 20 nm threshold [1][2][3]. Recently, research has progressed towards controlling the pore direction, orientation and long range order of these nanostructures through so called directed self-assembly (DSA). Significantly, the introduction of a wide range of top-down chemically and physically pre-patterning substrates has facilitated the DSA of nanostructures into functional device arrays. The following review begins with an overview of the fundamental aspects of self-assembly and ordering processes during the formation of PAAs, BCPs and MPS films. Special attention is given to the different ways of directing self-assembly, concentrating on properties such as uni-directional alignment, precision placement and registry of the self-assembled structures to hierarchal or top down architectures. Finally, to distinguish this review from other articles we focus on research where nanostructures have been utilised in part to fabricate arrays of functioning devices below the sub 50 nm threshold, by subtractive transfer and additive methods. Where possible, we attempt to compare and contrast the different templating approaches and highlight the strengths and/or limitations that will be important for their potential integration into downstream processes. ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 3 SECTION 1.0: SELF ASSEMBLY AND NANO-ARCHITETCURESThe diversity of self-assembled nanostructures and more importantly, their precise orientation within a thin film (fixed to a substrate) ultimately determines their function and overall application. A large population of research reports to date have focused on identifying these orientations and related periodicities, using x-ray and microscopy tools, as well the development of methods for readily manipulating nanostructures, such as pre-patterning of silicon substrates for the alignment of block copolymers (BCPs) [4] and mesoporous thin films (MTFs) [5] and altering the growth direction of porous anodic alumina (PAA) templates [6]. In this section, a brief synopsis of the mechanisms behind the self-assembly/organisation of each system and highlight nanoscale architectures (and orientations), which are important from a device perspective. Templated mesoporous thin filmsOrdered mesoporous powders were first discovered by researchers at the Mobil Petrochemical Corporation in 1992 and shortly after, sol-gel derived mesoporous silica films were fabricated [1,7].The first series of ordered mesoporous films were reported by Yang et al. in 1996 [8], prepared using initial surfactant concentrations above their critical micelle concentration (CMC). However the films prepared fil...

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Section: Block Copolymer (Bcp) Thin Filmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-assembled templates for the generation of arrays of 1-dimensional nanostructures: From molecules to devices

Farrell

Petkov²,

Morris

et al. 2010

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

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show abstract

“…[116][117][118] Rehse et al demonstrated for the first time the presence of non-bulk surface-reconstruction morphologies using polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-blockpoly-(methyl methacrylate) (SBM), polybutadiene-block-polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (BSM) and polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (SBT), 119 and Ludwigs et al systematically studied the phase behavior of SVT thin films and could match these results to simulations based on self-consistent field (SCF) theory.…”

Section: Abc Triblock Copolymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thin films of complexed block copolymers

2009

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Due to their ability to microphase separate into well ordered structures with periodicities on the nanometre scale, block copolymers have received widespread attention as building blocks for the fabrication of nanomaterials. In particular, thin films of block copolymers promise new technological breakthroughs in e.g. computer memory applications. This Review gives a short overview of progress that has been made in preparing suitable thin films of conventional coil-coil diblock copolymer systems, while the advantages as well as the complexities of using more unconventional systems such as triblock copolymers and supramolecular systems are emphasized. Gerrit tenBrinke obtained his PhD in Statistical Physics from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. He spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In 1985 he became Associate Professor in the Polymer Department of the University of Groningen and in 1996 Professor. During 1994-1999 he was also part time Professor at the Helsinki University of Technology working closely together with Olli Ikkala. His research interests are self-assembly in complex polymer systems.

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“…31 Among the strategies to induce ordering, directional solvent evaporation is very promising for submicron lithography due to its simplicity and low processing costs. 18,[32][33][34][35][36] In principle, the rate of evaporation and evaporation-induced solvent flow can be manipulated to guide the orientated growth and positioning of microdomains. Evaporation results in a solvent concentration gradient, which induces the ordering that starts from the surface and propagates toward the interior and eventually throughout the entire film.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Square Packing and Structural Arrangement of ABC Triblock Copolymer Spheres in Thin Films

et al. 2008

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Nanoporous thin films were prepared from poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate)-bpolystyrene (PEO-b-PMMA-b-PS) ABC triblock copolymer by solvent annealing under high relative humidity followed by UV degradation and acid washing. Ordered half-spheres at the surface that template ordering of spheres below the surface in thin films were formed as a result of the interaction between the hydrophilic PEO segments and water vapor during processing. The spherical block copolymer domains exhibit complex packing behavior on the surface and in the interior. A half-sphere "monolayer" and a half-sphere plus whole sphere "bilayer" were formed in thin films with thicknesses of 43 and 71 nm, respectively, and have hexagonal lattice symmetry. For half-sphere plus two whole sphere "trilayers" with a nominal thickness of 117 nm, coexistence of regions of hexagonal and square packing was observed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. Square packing was consistent with a surface-truncated unit cell of a body-centered cubic lattice with the (100) plane parallel to the surface.

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Large-Scale Alignment of ABC Block Copolymer Microdomains via Solvent Vapor Treatment

Cited by 217 publications

References 21 publications

Self-assembled templates for the generation of arrays of 1-dimensional nanostructures: From molecules to devices

Self-assembled templates for the generation of arrays of 1-dimensional nanostructures: From molecules to devices

Thin films of complexed block copolymers

Square Packing and Structural Arrangement of ABC Triblock Copolymer Spheres in Thin Films

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