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Effects of Electric Fields on Block Copolymer Nanostructures

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Complex Macromolecular Systems I

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 227))

Abstract

In this chapter we overview electric-field-induced effects on block copolymer microdomains. First, we will consider the thin film behavior and elucidate the parameters governing electric-field-induced alignment. We describe the structural evolution of the alignment in an electric field via quasi in situ scanning force microscopy (SFM) using a newly developed SFM setup that allows solvent vapor treatment in the presence of high electric fields. Second, we will turn to bulk structures and show novel effects of high field strengths on the block copolymer phase behavior. We will describe a procedure that allows tuning the morphology and size of the nanoscopic patterns by application of high electric fields and present experimental evidence for the electric-field-induced decrease of the order–disorder transition temperature in a block copolymer.

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Abbreviations

1D:

One-dimensional

2D:

Two-dimensional

CCD:

Charge-coupled device

E :

Electric field

F :

Free energy

M n :

Number-average molecular weight

Mw :

Weight-average molecular weight

ODT:

Order–disorder transition

P 2 :

Orientational order parameter

PHEMA:

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

PI:

Polyisoprene

PMMA:

Poly(methyl methacrylate)

PS:

Polystyrene

PVP:

Poly(2-vinyl pyridine)

S47H10M43 82 :

Polystyrene-block-poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)

S50V50 78 :

Polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine)

SAXS:

Small-angle X-ray scattering

SFM:

Scanning force microscopy

SI:

Polystyrene-block-polyisoprene diblock copolymer

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

THF:

Tetrahydrofuran

T ODT :

Order–disorder transition temperature

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank D. Andelman, P. Bösecke, E. di Cola, F. Fischer, H. Hänsel, M. Hund, S. Hüttner, G. Krausch, H. Krejtschi, V. Kuntermann, C. Liedel, A. Mihut, T. Narayanan, C. W. Pester, S. Rehse, M. Ruppel, K. A. Schindler, F. Schubert, G. J. A. Sevink, S. Stepanov, M. Sztucki, L. Tsarkova, Y. Tsori, V. Urban, T. M. Weiss, H. Zettl, and A. V. Zvelindovsky for support of this work. We are grateful to the ESRF for provision of synchrotron beam time. This work was carried out in the framework of the Sonderforschungsbereich 481 (TP A2) funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG). AB acknowledges financial support by the Lichtenberg-Program of the VolkswagenStiftung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Heiko G. Schoberth, Violetta Olszowka, Kristin Schmidt & Alexander Böker

  2. Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Materialien und Oberflächen and DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany

    Alexander Böker

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  1. Heiko G. Schoberth
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  2. Violetta Olszowka
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  3. Kristin Schmidt
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  4. Alexander Böker
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Correspondence to Alexander Böker .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Makromolekülforschung, LS für Makromolekulare Chemie II, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany

    Axel H. E. Müller

  2. Inst. Makromolekulare Chemie I, Univ. Bayreuth, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany

    Hans-Werner Schmidt

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Schoberth, H.G., Olszowka, V., Schmidt, K., Böker, A. (2010). Effects of Electric Fields on Block Copolymer Nanostructures. In: Müller, A., Schmidt, HW. (eds) Complex Macromolecular Systems I. Advances in Polymer Science, vol 227. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2010_51

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