The University of New Mexico

Seminar:

Rapid block-copolymer ordering using photo-thermal gradients

October 24, 2014

Kevin Yager

Block-copolymers are macromolecules that self-assemble into well-defined
nanostructures due to micro-phase-separation of the blocks. These
materials hold great promise for the formation of functional
nanomaterials. Key to realizing this promise is the development of
scalable processing methods that can order materials rapidly, as well as
bias self-assembly to produce desired structures. This talk will discuss
the use of thermal fields to direct ordering of block-copolymers,
including recent development of a photo-thermal system for inducing
sharp thermal gradients. We demonstrate rapid (sub-second) annealing of
block-copolymers, with the possibility of controlling the orientation of
the morphology.