Open AccessStroboscopic microscopy—direct imaging of structure development and phase separation during spin‐coating
Author(s) -
Toolan Daniel T. W.,
Hodgkinson Richard,
Howse Jonathan R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part b: polymer physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1099-0488
pISSN - 0887-6266
DOI - 10.1002/polb.23410
Subject(s) - mesoscopic physics , nanotechnology , materials science , microscopy , polymer , phase (matter) , coating , spin coating , development (topology) , polymer science , chemical engineering , chemistry , optics , physics , composite material , condensed matter physics , organic chemistry , engineering , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Spin‐coated polymer blends possess a rich variety of accessible non‐equilibrium morphologies, formed through a process of phase separation and self‐assembly, the complexities of which remain incompletely understood. The technique of stroboscopic microscopy has now been developed to allow direct observations of microscopic and mesoscopic morphological development during spin‐coating and has afforded unequivocal information regarding morphological development. The technique so far has three modes of operation providing information on topographical, compositional, and crystal development. In this review, we look at the technique's development, its applications and comment on the future potential for this technique. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 17–25