Abstract
We have used atomic force microscopy to study the adsorption of PolyStyrene-Poly(VinylPyridine) (PS-PVP) block copolymers from a selective solvent onto atomically smooth mica surfaces. At certain copolymer concentrations, we observe a highly regular array of spherical surface micelles covering macroscopic areas of the substrate surface. Evidence is given for a thin homogeneous layer underneath the micelles which is probably due to adsorption of free copolymer chains and brush formation prior to the formation of the micellar structures. We discuss the quality of the self-assembled structures regarding different types of defects and try to identify means for improving the long range periodicity of the structures.
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The mica sheets were put in a desicator right after cleavage together with a petri dish filled with some 10 ml OTS. The desicator was subsequently pumped down by means of a roughing pump and refilled with filtered air. This cleaning cycle was repeated several times before the desicator was closed in the evacuated state. The mica sheets were left in the OTS vapor for some 5 h. The coverage was checked by means of water contact angle measurements
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Results quite similar to what is shown in Fig. 3a have recently been observed in ultrathin films of poly(styrene-b-methylmethacrylate) block copolymers: L. Nick, A. Kindermann, J. Fuhrmann: Coll. Polym. Sci.272, 367 (1994)
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We shall mention that instead of using the functionalized surface for spatially localized chemical reactions after micelle adsorption, PS-PVP micelles can be selectively ‘loaded’ in solution prior to adsorption. It has recently been shown that structures similar to the ones shown in this paper can be obtained by adsorbing PS-PVP micelles loaded with gold particles; J.P. Spatz, A. Roescher, S. Sheiko, G. Krausch, M. Möller: Adv. Mat. (in press)
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Meiners, J.C., Ritzi, A., Rafailovich, M.H. et al. Two-dimensional micelle formation of polystyrene-poly(vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers on mice surfaces. Appl. Phys. A 61, 519–524 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540253
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540253