Spontaneous alignment of self-assembled ABC triblock terpolymers for large-area nanolithography

Abstract

A general method for preparation of large-area inorganic nanostructure arrays based on the use of core-shell cylinder forming ABC triblock terpolymers is presented. The essential perpendicular cylinder alignment is achieved by the use of a low surface energy B block (polyisoprene), which drives spontaneous perpendicular alignment of cylindrical C domains (polylactide) in a matrix of A (polystyrene), eliminating the lengthy anneal steps, external field alignment procedures, or specialized surface preparations that could severely restrict potential applications.