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Controlling Self-Assembly in Gyroid Terpolymer Films By Solvent Vapor Annealing.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Dolan, James A 
Dehmel, Raphael 

Abstract

The efficacy with which solvent vapor annealing (SVA) can control block copolymer self-assembly has so far been demonstrated primarily for the simplest class of copolymer, the linear diblock copolymer. Adding a third distinct block-thereby creating a triblock terpolymer-not only provides convenient access to complex continuous network morphologies, particularly the gyroid phases, but also opens up a route toward the fabrication of novel nanoscale devices such as optical metamaterials. Such applications, however, require the generation of well-ordered 3D continuous networks, which in turn requires a detailed understanding of the SVA process in terpolymer network morphologies. Here, in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) is employed to study the self-assembly of a gyroid-forming triblock terpolymer during SVA, revealing the effects of several key SVA parameters on the morphology, lateral order, and, in particular, its preservation in the dried film. The robustness of the terpolymer gyroid morphology is a key requirement for successful SVA, allowing the exploration of annealing parameters which may enable the generation of films with long-range order, e.g., for optical metamaterial applications.

Description

Keywords

block copolymer self-assembly, gyroids, in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), solvent vapor annealing, triblock terpolymers

Journal Title

Small

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1613-6810
1613-6829

Volume Title

14

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
European Research Council (320503)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L027151/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G060649/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G037221/1)
EPSRC (1208452)
ERC, EPSRC, EU