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Microscopic Morphology of Polyfluorene–Poly(ethylene oxide) Block Copolymers: Influence of the Block Ratio
Author(s) -
Surin M.,
Marsitzky D.,
Grimsdale A. C.,
Müllen K.,
Lazzaroni R.,
Leclère P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200305191
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , polyfluorene , ethylene oxide , morphology (biology) , mica , substrate (aquarium) , chemical engineering , oxide , polymer chemistry , polymer , composite material , oceanography , biology , metallurgy , engineering , genetics , geology
Abstract In this paper, we describe the synthesis and characterization of poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PF‐PEO) block copolymers with different block ratio and molecular architectures (diblock or triblock copolymers). Tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy is used to investigate the relationship between the molecular structure and the microscopic morphology of thin deposits. Copolymers with a low average volume ratio of PEO ( f EO from 0.1 to 0.3) exhibit a well‐defined organization into nanoribbons. A model of chain packing is proposed; these structures arise from the interplay of π–π interactions between conjugated PF segments and the interactions of PEO with the mica substrate surface. For copolymers with higher average volume ratio of PEO ( f EO > 0.4), the organized structures disappear and lead to untextured aggregates, probably because long‐range, regular π–π stacking of the segments can no longer take place. We also observe that the nature of the solvent from which deposits are grown and the substrate polarity have a strong impact on the microscopic morphology.