2017/05/02 by Matthias Lessel, Joshua D. McGraw, Lessel, Matthias +5
Engineering · Materials Science · #Block Copolymer Self-Assembly #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics and Thin Films #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1705.00917
openalex publication_date 2017/05/02 · openalex created_date 2022/10/04 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This study reveals the influence of the surface energy and solid/liquid\nboundary condition on the breakup mechanism of dewetting ultra-thin polymer\nfilms. Using silane self-assembled monolayers, SiO2 substrates are rendered\nhydrophobic and provide a strong slip rather than a no-slip solid/liquid\nboundary condition. On undergoing these changes, the thin-film breakup\nmorphology changes dramatically -- from a spinodal mechanism to a breakup which\nis governed by nucleation and growth. The experiments reveal a dependence of\nthe hole density on film thickness and temperature. The combination of lowered\nsurface energy and hydrodynamic slip brings the studied system closer to the\nconditions encountered in bursting unsupported films. As for unsupported\npolymer films, a critical nucleus size is inferred from a free energy model.\nThis critical nucleus size is supported by the film breakup observed in the\nexperiments using high speed \in situ atomic force microscopy.\n