Microdomain Morphology Analysis of Block Copolymers by Atomic Force Microscopy with Phase Detection Imaging

Leclère, Philippe; Lazzaroni, Roberto; Brédas, Jean‐Luc; Yu, Jie; Dubois, Philippe; Jérôme, Robert

doi:10.1021/la9600964

Cited by 127 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…While the first type of images provides a topographical map of the surface, the latter is extremely sensitive to structural heterogeneities on the sample surface, being therefore ideal to identify different components in a hybrid film. [35,36] Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy [9] was employed in the Lift Mode. In such a mode the topography and surface potential [15] signals are sub-sequentially recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probing Local Surface Potential of Quasi‐One‐Dimensional Systems: A KPFM Study of P3HT Nanofibers

Liscio

Palermo

Samorı́

2008

Adv Funct Materials

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A new model for the quantitative analysis of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) measurements of quasi‐one‐dimensional systems is presented. It is applied to precisely determine the local surface potential (SP) of semiconducting nanofibers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) self‐assembled on various flat substrates. To study these quasi‐one dimensional objects, the effective area has been defined. This parameter represents the area of sample surface interacting with the KPFM probe and it plays a crucial role in the estimation of the SP of nanofibers having a cross‐section comparable to the apical diameter of the tip, i.e., 20 nm. Therefore our model makes it possible to gain quantitative insight into nano‐systems smaller than 20 nm. In particular, through the estimation of the effective area, it allows to determine the local surface potential of single nanofiber as well as to simulate the KPFM image of nano‐assemblies adsorbed both on electrically insulating and conducting substrates. This versatile model represents a useful tool to study with a high degree of precision the surface potential characteristics of nanowires paving the way towards their use as building blocks for the fabrication of electronic nanodevices with improved performance.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probing Local Surface Potential of Quasi‐One‐Dimensional Systems: A KPFM Study of P3HT Nanofibers

Liscio

Palermo

Samorı́

2008

Adv Funct Materials

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“…Since both IR reflection-absorption spectroscopy and ellipsometry essentially provide information on the bulk composition, a surface sensitive technique such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) is desirable to evaluate the actual chemical composition of the film surface. AFM has been recently used in tapping mode in order to detect microphase separation in polymers on the 10-nm scale [30]. In case of the mixed films prepared in this study, no microphase separation of PEA and PAN is observed even when the two constitutive polymers are detectable on the surface by TOF-SIMS.…”

Section: Pea Grafting Firstmentioning

confidence: 84%

Electrodeposition of mixed adherent thin films of poly(ethyl acrylate) and polyacrylonitrile onto nickel

et al. 2004

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Adherent thin polymer films have been prepared by sequential electrodeposition of ethyl acrylate (EA) and acrylonitrile (AN) onto nickel. Their composition has been studied by IR spectroscopy and time of flight -secondary ion mass spectrometry. Morphology and thickness have been analyzed by atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry, respectively, and compared to single component films of PEA and PAN. No microphase separation was detected in the mixed PEA/ PAN films. These show a granular morphology comparable to that of PAN films. The grains contain the two constitutive polymers, as confirmed by the selective thermal degradation of PEA.

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“…While the first type of images provides a topographical map of the surface, the latter is extremely sensitive to structural heterogeneities on the sample surface, being therefore ideal to identify different components in a hybrid film [42,43]. The SFM Autoprobe CP research (ThermoMicroscopes) was run in an air environment at room temperature with scan rates of 1-1.5 Hz/line.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phase Segregation in Thin Films of Conjugated Polyrotaxane– Poly(ethylene oxide) Blends: A Scanning Force Microscopy Study

Sardone

Williams

Anderson

et al. 2007

Adv Funct Materials

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Scanning force microscopy (SFM) is used to study the surface morphology of spin‐coated thin films of the ion‐transport polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blended with either cyclodextrin (CD)‐threaded conjugated polyrotaxanes based on poly(4,4′‐diphenylene‐vinylene) (PDV), β‐CD–PDV, or their uninsulated PDV analogues. Both the polyrotaxanes and their blends with PEO are of interest as active materials in light‐emitting devices. The SFM analysis of the blended films supported on mica and on indium tin oxide (ITO) reveals in both cases a morphology that reflects the substrate topography on the (sub‐)micrometer scale and is characterized by an absence of the surface structure that is usually associated with phase segregation. This observation confirms a good miscibility of the two hydrophilic components, when deposited by using spin‐coating, as suggested by the luminescence data on devices and thin films. Clear evidence of phase segregation is instead found when blending PEO with a new organic‐soluble conjugated polymer such as a silylated poly(fluorene)‐alt‐poly(para‐phenylene) based polyrotaxane (THS–β‐CD–PF–PPP). The results obtained are relevant to the understanding of the factors influencing the interfacial and the intermolecular interactions with a view to optimizing the performance of light‐emitting diodes, and light‐emitting electrochemical cells based on supramolecularly engineered organic polymers.

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Microdomain Morphology Analysis of Block Copolymers by Atomic Force Microscopy with Phase Detection Imaging

Cited by 127 publications

References 10 publications

Probing Local Surface Potential of Quasi‐One‐Dimensional Systems: A KPFM Study of P3HT Nanofibers

Probing Local Surface Potential of Quasi‐One‐Dimensional Systems: A KPFM Study of P3HT Nanofibers

Electrodeposition of mixed adherent thin films of poly(ethyl acrylate) and polyacrylonitrile onto nickel

Phase Segregation in Thin Films of Conjugated Polyrotaxane– Poly(ethylene oxide) Blends: A Scanning Force Microscopy Study

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