Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.28, No.16, 1619-1623, 2007
Surface morphological evolution of ultrathin P4VP films and generation of ordered patterns on graphite
The spin-coated thin-film morphology of poly(4-vinylpyridine) has been studied by AFM; the dark lines or disks (circular holes) in the AFM height images correspond to the depressed regions. An epitaxy-like "nano-trench" pattern was observed in the noncrystalline polymer film deposited on the crystalline graphite substrate. The transition from surface-templated to isotropic dewetting occurs during 3 nm of the film thickness increase. This study presents an example of ordered nanopatterns emerging from the chaotic spin-coating process. The well-defined "nano-trench" morphology offers an opportunity for the study of the nanoconfinement effect and provides a unique means for surface patterning and nanolithography.
Keywords:adsorption;atomic force microscopy (AFM);interfaces;morphology;nanotechnology;noncrystalline polymers;orientation;self-organization;spin coating;templates;thin films;transitions