Dunbar, A.D.F., Mokarian-Tabari, P., Parnell, A.J. et al. (3 more authors) (2010) A solution concentration dependent transition from self-stratification to lateral phase separation in spin-cast PS:d-PMMA thin films. European Physical Journal E - Soft Matter (The), 31 (4). pp. 369-375. ISSN 1292-8941
Abstract
Thin films with a rich variety of different nano-scale morphologies have been produced by spin casting solutions of various concentrations of PS:d-PMMA blends from toluene solutions. During the spin casting process specular reflectivity and off-specular scattering data were recorded and ex situ optical and atomic force microscopy, neutron reflectivity and ellipsometry have all been used to characterise the film morphologies. We show that it is possible to selectively control the film morphology by altering the solution concentration used. Low polymer concentration solutions favour the formation of flat in-plane phase-separated bi-layers, with a d-PMMA-rich layer underneath a PS-rich layer. At intermediate concentrations the films formed consist of an in-plane phase-separated bi-layer with an undulating interface and also have some secondary phase-separated pockets rich in d-PMMA in the PS-rich layer and vice versa. Using high concentration solutions results in laterally phase-separated regions with sharp interfaces. As with the intermediate concentrations, secondary phase separation was also observed, especially at the top surface.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2010 Springer. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in European Physical Journal E. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Polystyrene/Poly(METHYL Methacrylate) Blends; Surface-Morphology; Polymer Blends |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Engineering (Sheffield) > Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Physics and Astronomy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Miss Anthea Tucker |
Date Deposited: | 16 Jun 2010 12:25 |
Last Modified: | 18 Nov 2016 17:09 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10592-4 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1140/epje/i2010-10592-4 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:10866 |