TY  - JOUR
AU  - Meinhardt, Alexander
AU  - Qi, Peng
AU  - Maximov, Ivan
AU  - Keller, Thomas F.
TI  - A Pathway Toward Sub-10 nm Surface Nanostructures Utilizing Block Copolymer Crystallization Control
JO  - Advanced materials interfaces
VL  - 12
IS  - 6
SN  - 2196-7350
CY  - Weinheim
PB  - Wiley-VCH
M1  - PUBDB-2024-05481
SP  - 2400661
PY  - 2025
AB  - It is elucidated how crystallization can be used to create lateral surface nanostructures in a size regime toward sub-10 nm using molecular self-assembly of short chain crystallizable block copolymers (BCP) and assist in overcoming the high-χ barrier for microphase separation. In this work, an amphiphilic double-crystalline polyethylene-b-polyethylene oxide (PE-b-PEO) block co-oligomer is used. A crystallization mechanism of the short-chain BCP in combination with neutral wetting of the functionalized substrate surface that permits to form edge-on, extended chain crystal lamellae with enhanced thermodynamic stability. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis along with surface energy considerations suggest that upon cooling from the polymer melt, the PE-b-PEO first forms a segregated horizontal lamellar morphology. AFM analysis indicates that the PEO crystallization triggers a morphological transition involving a rotation of the forming extended chain crystals in edge-on orientation. Exposing their crystal side facets to the top surface permits to minimize their interfacial energy and form vertical nanostructures. Moreover, the edge-on lamellae can be macroscopically aligned by directed self-assembly (DSA), one necessity for various nanotechnological applications. It is believed that the observed mechanism to form stable edge-on lamellae can be transferred to other crystallizable short chain BCPs, providing potential pathways for sub-10 nm nanotechnology.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001419065800001
DO  - DOI:10.1002/admi.202400661
UR  - https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/record/612827
ER  -