Self-Assembly beyond 2D – Interactions in Multi-Layered Arrays of Block Copolymer Films

Block copolymers (BCPs) offer a promising way for creating nanostructured periodic patterns on various substrates. Ordered BCP films are frequently utilized as etching or deposition masks or as synthetic templates in the fabrication of various functional nanomaterials. Unfortunately, the range of morphologies offered by typical diblock copolymer thin films is rather limited and does not meet the need for more refined structures required in many applications. Without resorting to more complex system e.g. multi-block copolymers, the two most commonly employed 2D motifs in the diblock systems are periodic “lines” and hexagonally-packed “dots”. To extend the library of structural motifs offered by the BCPs, we propose a strategy in which multiple monolayers are stacked, co-annealed, and ultimately converted to inorganic nanomaterials. We are investigating the process of mutual interactions between the layers of BCPs of distinct morphology and composition in which the polymers are initially in their disordered as-cast state or preordered using our directed self-assembly setup.