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Square Lamellar Structure Having Phase‐Separated Microdomain in H‐Shaped Block Copolymer Thin Film
Author(s) -
Wei Yuhan,
Huang Weihuan,
Li Binyao,
Han Yanchun,
Pan Caiyuan
Publication year - 2008
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.200800210
Subject(s) - lamellar structure , copolymer , lipid microdomain , materials science , lamella (surface anatomy) , ethylene glycol , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , evaporation , chemical engineering , thin film , polystyrene , micelle , peg ratio , lamellar phase , composite material , nanotechnology , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , membrane , physics , biochemistry , finance , aqueous solution , engineering , economics , thermodynamics
The morphology of a H‐shaped block copolymer (poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and polystyrene branches (PS) 2 PEG(PS) 2 ) in a thin film has been investigated. A peculiar square lamella that has a phase‐separated microdomain at its surface is obtained after spin coating. The experimental temperature plays a critical role in the lamellar formation. The copolymer first self‐assembles into square lamellar micelles with an incomplete crystalline core due to the crystallizability of PEG. In the subsequent process of solvent evaporation, phase separation between PS and non‐crystalline PEG attached at the chain‐folded PEG surface takes place, which results in phase‐separated microdomains being formed at the lamellar surface.