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Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of defectivity in directed self‐assembly of cylinder‐forming diblock copolymers in laterally confining thin channels
Author(s) -
Kim Bongkeun,
Laachi Nabil,
Delaney Kris T.,
Carilli Michael,
Kramer Edward J.,
Fredrickson Glenn H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.40790
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , kinetic energy , cylinder , polymer , thin film , chemical physics , nanotechnology , composite material , classical mechanics , physics , geometry , mathematics
We use self‐consistent field theory to calculate the energy of defect formation in cylinder‐forming diblock copolymers in laterally confining thin channels. We focus on two isolated defects, dislocations and disclinations and explore a wide range of polymer and channel characteristics. Our findings suggest appropriate conditions for the design of optimized graphoepitaxial processes, where defects are limited to very low concentrations. Using the string method, we also investigate the energy barriers and kinetic pathways of the transition from defective to perfect states. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40790.