Tuning surface interactions to control shape and array behavior of diblock copolymer micelles on a silicon substrate

The micellar shape of liquid crystalline diblock copolymers, PEOm-b-PMA(Az)n, consisting of high surface energy components was controlled by tuning surface interactions. On a fluorinated surface, the diblock copolymers formed ordered arrays of spherical micelles consisting of PEO cores surrounded by PMA(Az) coronas. Gold ions could be doped into the PEO cores by immersion in a solution of the gold ion. The Au3+-doped micelles were subsequently etched and reduced by VUV radiation to form hexagonally ordered gold nanodots.