MISCIBILITY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THIN FILMS OF BLENDS OF POLYSTYRENE WITH BROMINATED POLYSTYRENES： EFFECTS OF VARYING THE MOLECULAR WEIGHT, BROMINATION DEGREE AND ANNEALING

Thin films of incompatible polymer blends can form a variety of structures during preparation and subsequent annealing process. For the polymer blend system consisting of polystyrene and poIy(styrene-co-p-bromo-styrene), i.e., PS/PBrxS, its compatibility could be adjusted by varying the degree of bromination and the molecular weight of both components comprised, in this paper, surface chemical compositions of the cast and the annealing films were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurement; meanwhile, surface topographical changes are followed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, substantial attention was paid to the effect of annealing on the morphologic variations induced by phase separation and/or dewetting of the thin film. Moreover, the influences of the molecular weight, Aw, as well as the brominated degree, x%, on the sample surface are explored systematically, and the corresponding observations are explained in virtue of the Flory-Huggins theory, along with the dewetting of the polymer thin film.     

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYESTER——MORPHOLOGY OF SHEAR ORIENTED FILMS

The morphology of shear-oriented films of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester containing a triad ester mesogenic unit and a flexible spacer has been investigated in details. The formation conditions and process, the fine structures and the relaxation process of mat structure in the oriented films have been observed and discussed.     

DESIGN AND STUDY OF NEW AZOBENZENE LIQUID CRYSTAL/POLYMER MATERIALS

Discussion is presented on the use of the photoisomerization of azobenzene chromophore in the design andpreparation of novel functional materials. The two systems reviewed are azobenzene polymer-stabilized liquid crystals andazobenzene elastomers. In the first case, a polymer network containing azobenzene moieties is used to optically induce andstabilize a long-range liquid crystal orientation without the need of treating the surfaces of the substrates. This optical andrubbing-free approach was applied to nematic and ferroelectric liquid crystals. In the second case, an azobenzene side-chainliquid crystalline polymer is grafted onto a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer to yield a photoactive thermoplasticelastomer. Coupled mechanical and optical effects make possible the formation of dimaction gratings that may be useful formechanically tunable optical devices.     

OPTICAL INTERFERENCE METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF MOISTURE SWELLING IN PET FILMS

A method for measuring moisture swelling of amorphous PET films by using Rayleigh interferometer is reported, Plots of the optical path of light transmission in the polymer vs. soaking time were obtained, and from the same curves, the dependence of time on the moisture swelling, saturated water absorption and diffusion coefficient of PET films were estimated. These results are in agreement with those obtained by weighing method. It is shown that optical interference method is a simple but sensitive method for the study of water absorption and swelling in transparent polymer films.     

Slow Down Dewetting in Polymer Films by Isocyanate-treated Graphite Oxide

Isocyanate-treated graphite oxides(i GOs) were well-dispersed into the polystyrene(PS) thin films and formed a novel network structure. With control in fabrication, an i GOs-web layer was horizontally embedded near the surface of the films and thus formed a composite slightly doped by i GOs. This work demonstrated that the i GOs network can remarkably depress the dewetting process in the polymer matrix of the composite, while dewetting often leads to rupture of polymer films and is considered as a major practical limit in using polymeric materials above their glass transition temperatures(Tg). Via annealing the 50–120 nm thick composite and associated neat PS films at temperatures ranging from 35 °C to 70 °C above Tg, surface morphology evolution of the films was monitored by atomic force microscopy(AFM). The i GOs-doped PS exhibited excellent thermal stability, i.e., the number of dewetting holes was greatly reduced and the long-term hole growth was fairly restricted. In contrast, the neat PS film showed serious surface fluctuation and a final rupture induced by ordinary dewetting. The method developed in this work may pave a road to reinforce thin polymer films and enhance their thermal stability, in order to meet requirements by technological advances.     

MULTI-SCALES RELAXATION PROCESSES OF SHORT FIBER OF NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE COPOLYMER IN POLYCARBONATE MATRIX

Multi-scales relaxation processes of short fiber of a nematic liquid crystalline copolymer(LCP)in polycarbonate matrix were investigated.First,the structure relaxation of LCP was studied by rheology.The relaxation spectrum of the nematic liquid crystalline copolymer at 295℃was calculated from the combined dynamic modulus.There are three kinds of relaxation mechanisms for nematic liquid crystalline copotymer:the relaxation of chain orientation,the relaxation of deformed polydomains and the coalescence of ...     

Studies on the Structure of Gel during Preparing ZnO Thin Films by Sol-gel Method

<正>Transparent thin films of ZnO have been prepared on ordinary glass substrates by the inorganic sol-gel method using citric acid as chelating agent and zinc nitrate as the starting material.A novel structure on zinc citrate complex was put forward by using DTA-TG and FT-IR absorbance spectrum of citrate gels.Phase formation,morphology and optical properties of ZnO films are investigated by XRD,AFM and UV-vis transmittance spectra.The experimental results show that ZnO thin films derived from zinc citrate sol-gel method showed a(002)oriented hexagonal wurtzite structure,good crystalline property,a uniform range of grain size(40 nm), smooth surface of films,band gap of 3.28 eV and optical transmittances ratio over 90%in the visible range.     

Synthesis and characterization of non-symmetrical liquid crystals containing a cholesteryl ester moiety

In this paper,a series of chiral non-symmetrical liquid crystals(nBA-chol)consisting of a cholesteryl ester moiety as chiral entity and a biphenyl aromatic core with different terminal alkyl chain has been synthesized and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties.Effects of numbers of methylene units in the terminal alkyl chain on the phase transition temperatures and on the temperature-dependent pitch lengths of the chiral liquid crystals have been studied.The long terminal alkyl chain tends ...     

IN SITU OBSERVATION OF MELTING AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIORS OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE) ULTRA-THIN FILMS BY AFM TECHNIQUE

The melting and crystallization behaviors of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) ultra-thin films with thickness from 15 nm to 8 nm were studied by AFM technique equipped with a hot-stage in real-time. It was found that melting can erase the spherulitic structure for polymer film with high thickness. However, annealing above the melting point can not completely erase the tree-like structure for the thinner polymer film. Generally, the structure formation of thin polymer films of PCL is controlled not only by melting and crystallization but also by dewetting during thermal annealing procedures, and dewetting predominates in the structure formation of ultra-thin films. However, the presence of tree-like morphology at 75 °C may be due to the strong interaction between PCL and mica surface, which may stick the PCL chains onto the mica surface during thermal annealing process. Moreover, the growth of the dendrites was investigated and it was found that crystallization is followed from a dewetted sample, and the branches did not grow with the stems. The crystallization of polymer in the ultra-thin films is a diffusion-controlled process. Both melting and crystallization behaviors of PCL in thin films are influenced by film thickness.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of La2O3 thin films on SiO2

Classical molecular dynamics is used to investigate the equilibrium state of the surface region and interface of heteroepitaxial La2O3 thin films.Due to the lattice mismatch,heteroepitaxial thin films are subject to very large stress.For this reason the behavior of La2O3 thin films at SiO2interface becomes an important concern.Our result indicates that La2O3 can uniformly wet SiO2 surface.The properties of the simulated films are analyzed and the lack of any discernible crystalline phase in epitaxial La2O3 on SiO2 indicates that the lattice mismatch between SiO2 and La2O3 is sufficiently large to prevent the formation of even short-range orders in La2O3 film.     

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF A THERMOTROPIC SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER DURING MESOPHASE TRANSITIONS*

The morphological features of a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer during the mesophasetransitions were investigated by using the DSC technique. The polymer used was polyacrylate with mesogensof three benzene rings attached to the main chain through a flexible spacer. A special two-phase texture wasobserved in the transition temperature range. Similar to main-chain liquid crystalline polymers the transitionprocess of the side-chain liquid crystalline polymer was composed of an initiation of the new phase at localplaces of the old phase matrix and a growth process of the new phase domains.     

Effects of ZnO Buffer Layer Thickness on Properties of MgxZn1-xO Thin Films Deposited by MOCVD

High-quality MgxZn1-xO thin films were grown on sapphire（0001 ） substrates with a ZnO buffer layer of different thicknesses by means of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Diethyl zinc, bis-cyclopentadienyl-Mg and oxygen were used as the precursor materials. The crystalline quality, surface morphologies and optical properties of the Mg, Zn1-xO films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence spectrometry. It was shown that the quality of the MgxZn1-xO thin films depends on the thickness of the ZnO buffer layer and an Mg, Zn1-xO thin film with a ZnO buffer layer whose thickness was 20 nm exhibited the best crystal-quality, optical properties and a flat and dense surface.     

Getting to the bottom morphology of block copolymer thin films

We demonstrate a general approach for attaining the bottom morphology of block copolymer(BCP) thin films. In our former measurements on PS-b-PMMA films, surface morphology maps of the BCP films revealed distinct ordering regimes where the cylinders orient predominantly perpendicular or parallel to the interface and an ‘intermediate' regime where these morphologies coexist. However, this earlier work did not explore the bottom morphology of BCP thin films. In this study, we investigated the block copolymer morphology near the solid substrate in the cast block copolymer film having a perpendicular cylinder morphology on the surface.     

Molecular and Crystal Structure of Trans -2- [p-N- methyl-N-(2'-hydroxyethyl)amino)phenyl-nitroethene?

1 INTRODUCTIONOver the past two decades, nonlinear optics is drawing steady attention because of its wide application proposed in the photonics-based technologies of optical signal processing, optical switching, optical sensing etc. A wide variety of materials including inorganic and organic crystals, thin films, and organic polymers and polymeric composites possess nonlinear optical (NLO) properties[1~3]. Among them, the polymer materials processed into thin films are expected to play a…     

Liquid Crystalline Polymers

History of Liquid Crystalline PolymersThe liquid crystalline(LC)state was first observed by Austrian botanist and chemist F.Reinitzer more than a century ago,and it was then confirmed in 1888 by German physicist O.Lehmann who named such a state of matter as"liquid crystal"in 1900.While low molecular mass(LMM)liquid crystals were successfully used in LC displays(LCDs),the development of LC polymers(LCPs)followed an independent path.Conceptually,LCPs are prepared with the incorporation of mesogenic groups that are responsible for the formation of LC mesophases,such as rod-like(calamitic)and discotic ones,into polymer chains.Depending on where the mesogens are attached,traditionally there are three major categories of LCPs.Main-chain LCPs(MCLCPs)have mesogens in the polymer backbone,while mesogens of side-chain LCPs(SCLCPs)are incorporated as side groups in a polymer with a relatively flexible main chain.In main-chain/side-chain combined LCPs(MCSCLCPs),mesogens are in both the backbone and side chains.Other classes of LCPs include mesogenjacketed LCPs(MJLCPs),dendronized LCPs,and LC networks(LCNs).     

STRUCTURE EVOLUTION OF POLYMER CHAINS FOR NECKING FORMATION IN HIGH-SPEED FIBER SPINNING PROCESS

Finite element method is used to simulate the high-speed melt spinning process,based on the equation system proposed by Doufas et al.Calculation predicts a neck-like deformation,as well as the related profiles of velocity,diameter, temperature,chain orientation,and crystallinity in the fiber spinning process.Considering combined effects on the process such as flow-induced crystallization,viscoelasticity,filament cooling,air drag,inertia,surface tension and gravity,the simulated material flow behaviors are consistent with those observed for semi-crystalline polymers under various spinning conditions.The structure change of polymer coils in the necking region described by the evolution of conformation tensor is also investigated.Based on the relaxation mechanism of macromolecules in flow field different types of morphology change of polymer chains before and in the neck are proposed,giving a complete prospect of structure evolution and crystallization of semi-crystalline polymer in the high speed fiber spinning process.     

Effect of Doped Boron on the Properties of ZnO Thin Films Prepared by Sol-gel Spin Coating

Transparent conductive boron-doped ZnO thin films were prepared by sol-gel spin coating method. The effect of doped boron concentration on the properties of the films was systematically discussed. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, spectrophotometry, and Hall effect measurement system. All the doped and undoped ZnO films were of a single hexagonal structure, and showed a preferred orientation of （002）. The particle size and surface roughness of the films decreased with increased doped boron concentration. All the films exhibited an average transmittance of approximate 90% in visible-light region and an energy gap of about 3.3 cV. The maximum carrier concentration, the highest carrier mobility and the lowest resistivity were observed at a doped boron concentration of 0.5%（molar fraction）. Based on these results, we suggested that the saturation concentration of doped boron in ZnO film is 0.5%（molar fraction）.     

Structure of friction-transferred highly oriented poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin films

Oriented thin films of P3HT were obtained by a friction-transfer technique. The morphology and structure of the film were studied by means of optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Optical microscopy observation indicates that large size well-ordered P3HT thin films can be produced by a friction-transfer technique. Highly ordered lamellae were observed in P3HT friction-transferred films by electron microscopy. Electron diffraction results confirm the existence of high orientation with the a- and c-axes of P3HT crystals aligned in the film plane while the c-axis parallel to the friction-transfer direction. The atomic force microscopy observation of the as-prepared P3HT thin film shows, however, a featureless top surface morphology, indicating the structure inhomogeneity of the obtained film. To get highly oriented P3HT thin films with homogenous structure, high temperature annealing, solvent vapor annealing and self-seeding recrystallization of the friction-transferred film were performed. It is confirmed that solvent vapor annealing and self-seeding recrystallization methods are efficient in improving the surface morphology and structure of the frictiontransferred P3HT thin film. Highly oriented P3HT films with unique structure can be obtained through friction-transfer with subsequent solvent vapor annealing and self-seeding recrystallization.     

A novel method to prepare SPR sensor chips based on photografting molecularly imprinted polymer

A novel method to prepare surface plasmon resonance(SPR) sensor chips based on grafted imprinted polymer is explored. Benzophenone photografting system is used to grow molecularly imprinted polymer(MIP) films from the modified surface of gold substrate.The surface morphology and thickness of MIP films were investigated by scanning electronic microscope(SEM).The adsorption properties of sensor chip were studied by SPR spectroscopy.The results demonstrate that nano-MIP films can be constructed on the surface of gold substrate with the good adsorption of template molecules.     

Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of polyimide thin films and the XPS study

Compared with the traditional thin film techniques, the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique has many advantages in the deposition of polymer and organic thin films. It has a wide range of applications in many fields, such as non-linear optics, luminescent devices, electronics, various sensors. We have successfully deposited polyimide thin films by using the MAPLE technique. These films were characterized with XPS. The XPS spectra showed that the single-photon effect is ob-vious at low laser fluence and the chemical bonds will be broken, resulting in decomposition of the films. Contrarily, the single-photon effect will decrease and the multi-photon effect and the photothermal effect will increase at high laser fluence, resulting in the protection of the structure of the polyimide thin films and the obvious decrease in decomposition. High laser fluence is more suitable for the deposition of polymer and organic thin films than low laser fluence.