Large-scale and local-scale structures in polymer-blend films: a grazing-incidence ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering and sub-microbeam grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering investigation

Abstract

Phase‐separation structures are installed by solution casting and flow of a binary polymer‐blend solution of polystyrene and poly‐n‐butylacrylate in toluene on silicon. Optical microscopy and scanning‐probe microscopy measurements provide the surface topography. Large‐scale structures are probed with high‐resolution or grazing‐incidence ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering enabled by high reciprocal‐space resolution. Correspondingly, structures of up to 13 µm are resolved. Local‐scale structures are detected with sub‐microbeam grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering, providing a high real‐space resolution of 1 µm. Nanometre‐size cavities are found in the polystyrene‐rich parts of the blend film.

A new highly automated sputter equipment for in situ investigation of deposition processes with synchrotron radiation

“…The incidence angle was α i = 0.4518 • and 2 frames/s were recorded. This setup represents the unique combination of (GI)USAXS 13 and sputter deposition available at P03 and, thus, the ability to follow the early stages of cluster formation and possibly nucleation with high angular and time resolution 36 probing correlated roughness changes in the sub-monolayer regime. Depicted is the intensity of the scattering pattern at α f = 0.2864 • for deposition of Au (P = 10 W, p(Ar) = 1.5 × 10 −2 mbar) at two different substrate temperatures: 26 • C and 150 • C .…”

“…Additional tube elements can be used to extend the distance between sample and detector to a maximum length of 10 m. This enables the performance of (grazing incidence) ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering experiments (GI)USAXS. 36 During the measurements all functions of the HASE apparatus are controlled with signals from the beamline software and via Ethernet.…”

Determination of the local gold contact morphology on a photoactive polymer film using nanobeam GISAXS

“…In the region of the gold contact no such correlation is detected. Thus as well known for spin coated polymer films [4,64], correlated roughness is present, which means that the surface of the P(S-b-PP) film is statistically correlated with the roughness of the Si substrate. The deposition of gold on top of the polymer film destroys this long range correlation and moreover no correlation between the gold film surface and the Si substrate is present.…”

A compact UHV deposition system for in situ study of ultrathin films via hard x-ray scattering and spectroscopy

“…5,6 The analysis of the diffusely scattered radiation at small angles of incidence allows one to obtain information on the lateral ordering of layers or clusters on various length scales. 7 Resonant techniques such as nuclear forward scattering combined with the use of isotopic probe layers can be used to obtain magnetic depth profiles with sub nm resolution. 8 The high intensity provided by modern synchrotron radiation sources enables one to collect data sufficiently fast to perform time resolved studies.…”