Curvature as a Guiding Field for Patterns in Thin Block Copolymer Films

Giang Thi Vu, Anabella A. Abate, Leopoldo R. Gómez, Aldo D. Pezzutti, Richard A. Register, Daniel A. Vega, Friederike Schmid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Experimental data on thin films of cylinder-forming block copolymers (BC) - free-standing BC membranes as well as supported BC films - strongly suggest that the local orientation of the BC patterns is coupled to the geometry in which the patterns are embedded. We analyze this phenomenon using general symmetry considerations and numerical self-consistent field studies of curved BC films in cylindrical geometry. The stability of the films against curvature-induced dewetting is also analyzed. In good agreement with experiments, we find that the BC cylinders tend to align along the direction of curvature at high curvatures. At low curvatures, we identify a transition from perpendicular to parallel alignment in supported films, which is absent in free-standing membranes. Hence both experiments and theory show that curvature can be used to manipulate and align BC patterns.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number087801
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume121
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 21 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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