Chemical and Biomolecular Research Papers -- Faculty Authors Series
Date of this Version
6-10-2002
Abstract
Structure of complex fluid at mesoscales is influenced by interfacial effects. We describe the dynamic response in such films to sudden change in interfacial tension. In a self-assembled block copolymer film, the monolayer of 15 nm diam cylindrical discrete phases close to the surface commence to sink at an average rate of 0.16 nm/day in response to the interfacial tension change. Surprisingly, this spontaneous planarization occurs, even though the cylinders are covalently stitched to the matrix. A simple model explains the observed behavior. The observation may lead to approaches to tailor the structure of mesoscale thin films of complex fluids for long-range order that are desirable for nanoscale device fabrication.
Comments
Published by American Institute of Physics. Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 80, No. 23, 10 June 2002. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. Permission to use. http://apl.aip.org/.