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Surface Morphological Evolution of Ultrathin P4VP Films and Generation of Ordered Patterns on Graphite
Author(s) -
Chen Dongzhong,
Handa Hitesh,
Wan Lei,
Mao Guangzhao
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200700342
Subject(s) - dewetting , materials science , graphite , nanotechnology , spin coating , thin film , trench , nanolithography , substrate (aquarium) , morphology (biology) , isotropy , composite material , optics , fabrication , layer (electronics) , medicine , oceanography , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , geology , biology , genetics
The spin‐coated thin‐film morphology of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) has been studied by AFM; the dark lines or disks (circular holes) in the AFM height images correspond to the depressed regions. An epitaxy‐like “nano‐trench” pattern was observed in the noncrystalline polymer film deposited on the crystalline graphite substrate. The transition from surface‐templated to isotropic dewetting occurs during 3 nm of the film thickness increase. This study presents an example of ordered nanopatterns emerging from the chaotic spin‐coating process. The well‐defined “nano‐trench” morphology offers an opportunity for the study of the nanoconfinement effect and provides a unique means for surface patterning and nanolithography.