Nanopatterned Carbon Films with Engineered Morphology by Direct Carbonization of UV-Stabilized Block Copolymer Films

Abstract

Nanopatterned thin carbon films were prepared by direct and expeditious carbonization of the block copolymer polystyrene- block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS- b-P2VP) without the necessity of slow heating to the process temperature and of addition of further carbon precursors. Carbonaceous films having an ordered "dots-on-film" surface topology were obtained from reverse micelle monolayers. The regular nanoporous morphology of PS- b-P2VP films obtained by subjecting reverse micelle monolayers to swelling-induced surface reconstruction could likewise be transferred to carbon films thus characterized by ordered nanopit arrays. Stabilization of PS- b-P2VP by UV irradiation and the concurrent carbonization of both blocks were key to the conservation of the film topography. The approach reported here may enable the realization of a broad range of nanoscaled architectures for carbonaceous materials using a block copolymer ideally suited as a template because of the pronounced repulsion between its blocks and its capability to form highly ordered microdomain structures.

Hierarchical positioning of gold nanoparticles into periodic arrays using block copolymer nanoring templates

“…The average values of d and p for BCP-a, BCP-b and BCP-c deposited in various conditions are reported in Table 1. It is known that such micelles can undergo a core-corona inversion in polar solvents resulting from the exposure of the P2VP block at the film-liquid interface [43]. Morphological changes from spherical micelles to nanoporous films [44] or nanoring structures [29] have been already reported by our group.…”

Ultrahigh Density Arrays of Toroidal ZnO Nanostructures by One‐Step Cooperative Self‐Assembly Processes: Mechanism of Structural Evolution and Hybridization with Au Nanoparticles

“…[49] If a configuration of monolayered, inverse micellar film is subsequently subjected to such chemicals, arrays of nanopores can be induced as a result of the migration of P4VP domains to the surface of the PS domains around the cores. [50][51][52][53][54][55][56] This fabrication process is realized in one step in the current system because the hybrid films are obtained from spin coating a common solution containing sol-gel precursors that were premixed with the BCP solution. When the inverse micelle reconstructs due to the presence of sol-gel precursors, the P4VP chains are pulled out of the surface.…”

Controllable self‐assembly of polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)

“…(c)) and n ‐propanol. The ability to induce pore formation seems to be enhanced with increasing carbon atoms in the monohydric alcohols . Yin et al .…”