Defects in lamellar diblock copolymers: Chevron- and Ω-shaped tilt boundaries

Abstract

We investigate symmetric grain boundaries in a lamellar diblock copolymer system. The form of the interface between two grains strongly depends on the angle $\theta$, between the normals of the grains. When this angle is small, the lamellae transform smoothly from one orientation to the other, creating the chevron morphology. As $\theta$ increases, a gradual transition is observed to an omega morphology characterized by a protrusion of the lamellae along the interface between the two phases. We present a theoretical approach to find these tilt boundaries in two-dimensional systems, based on a Ginzburg-Landau expansion of the free energy. Calculated order parameter profiles and energies agree well with transmission electron microscope experiments, and with full numerical solution of the same problem.