SELF ASSEMBLY OF ABC TRIBLOCK COPOLYMER THIN FILMS ON A BRUSH-COATED SUBSTRATE

Abstract

Self assemblies of ABC triblock copolymer thin films on a densely brush-coated substrate were investigated by using the self-consistent field theory. The middle block B and the coated polymer form one phase and the alternating phase A and phase C occur when the film is very thin either for the neutral or selective hard surface (which is opposite to the brush-coated substrate). The lamellar phase is stable on the hard surface when it is neutral and interestingly, the short block tends to stay on this hard surface. The rippled structure forms when the cylindrical phase exists near the surface between grafted polymers and ABC block copolymers. Due to the existence of the hydrophilic brush-coated surface serving as a soft surface of the film, the energy fluctuation existing in the film confined by two hard surfaces disappears. The results are helpful for designing the nanopattern of the film and realizing the functional thin film, such as adding the functional short block A to the BC diblock copolymer.