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Nanostructured Thin Films of Moderately Functionalized PMMA-b-PS
Hatice Turgut1,2, Divya Varadharajan1,2, Nico Dingenouts3
1Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|June 28, 2018
Summary
Functional poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PMMA-b-PS) block copolymers (BCPs) phase separate well in bulk but can form unstable thin films. These materials offer potential for nanotech applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Block copolymers (BCPs) like poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PMMA-b-PS) self-assemble into nanostructures.
- Functionalization of BCPs is key for advanced material applications.
- Understanding how functional groups affect self-assembly is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phase separation behavior of functionalized PMMA-b-PS BCPs in bulk and thin films.
- To evaluate the impact of specific functional groups (azide, pentafluorophenyl, furfuryl) on BCP morphology.
- To assess the potential of these functional BCPs for nanotechnological applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PMMA-b-PS BCPs with <10 mol% functional comonomers.
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for bulk morphology analysis.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) for thin film characterization.
- Surface neutralization and solvent stability tests.
Main Results:
- Functional groups do not disrupt bulk phase separation but influence domain dimensions.
- Some functional BCPs form inhomogeneous thin films, even with surface neutralization.
- The study identified specific functional groups and their impact on film formation.
- Films showed potential for nanoresolved molecular immobilization.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized PMMA-b-PS BCPs retain bulk self-assembly capabilities.
- Thin film formation can be challenging depending on the specific functional groups.
- These materials show promise for creating nanoscale platforms for molecular immobilization.
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