Morphologies of ABC triblock copolymer thin films

Abstract

We apply self-consistent field theory to confined films of symmetric ABC triblock copolymer melts, where the A and C blocks are equal in size and A-B, B-C, and A-C interactions are identical. We focus on the regime where, in bulk systems, B forms the majority domain and the minority A and C domains form cylinders or spheres. We show that the morphologies of confined films may have different symmetries from bulk melts, and the shape and orientation of the minority A and C domains can be manipulated by tuning the wall potentials and film thickness. Our calculations suggest a route for experimentally controlling complex nanometer-scale surface patterning.