Electric field manipulated nanopatterns in thin films of metalorganic 3-miktoarm star terpolymers

Christine Kathrein, Wubin Bai, Adam Nunns, Jessica Gwyther, Ian Manners, Alexander Boeker, Larisa Tsarkova, Caroline Ross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
547 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We report the effect of electric field on the morphological transitions and ordering behavior of polyferrocenylethylmethylsilane block (PFEMS)-containing copolymers. By analyzing structures in solventannealed films of metalorganic sphere- and cylinder-forming diblock copolymers, as well as of 3-miktoarm
polyisoprene-arm-polystyrene-arm-PFEMS (3m-ISF) terpolymers, we decouple two types of responses to the electric field: morphological transformations as a result of an increase in the volume fraction of the PFEMS block by oxidation of the ferrocenyl groups, and the orientation of the dielectric interfaces of microdomains parallel to the electric field vector. In the case of 3m-ISF, the former effect dominates at high electric field strengths which results in an unexpected cylinder-to-sphere transition, leading to a well-ordered hexagonal
dot pattern. Our results demonstrate multiple tunability of ordered microdomain morphologies, suggesting future applications in nanofabrication and surface patterning.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4866-4874
JournalSoft Matter
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2016

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