Surface versus Confinement Induced Morphology Transition in Triblock Copolymer Films:  A Grazing Incidence Small Angle Neutron Scattering Investigation

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 22; no. 22; pp. 9295 - 9303
• Main Authors: Müller-Buschbaum, P, Maurer, E, Bauer, E, Cubitt, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 24.10.2006
• Subjects: Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Atomic force microscopy; Confinement; Separation; Film; Grazing incidence; Nanostructure; X ray; Small angle X ray scattering; Triblock copolymer; Optical microscopy; Small angle neutron scattering; Morphology; Styrene polymer; Structure; Interface; Reflectance
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la061455q

The internal nanostructure resulting from microphase separation in triblock copolymer films of polyparamethylstyrene-block-polystyrene-block-polyparamethylstyrene, P(pMS-b-Sd8-b-pMS), has been investigated with grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering (GISANS). X-ray reflectivity, grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) complement the investigation. The influence of two limiting interfaces present in confinement is compared to the presence of only one surface. GISANS allows for the detection of structures in the very limited sample volume of confined films as well as for a depth sensitivity to probe the near free surface part of bulk films. With respect to the surface a perpendicular oriented lamella is observed. In contrast to the shrinkage of the characteristic lamellar spacing in confinement at the free surface, a slight increase is determined.