Microstructure of block copolymers containing a conjugated segment, as studied with atomic force microscopy

The microscopic morphology of thin films of block copolymers is investigated with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The block copolymers consist of a conjugated polyparaphenylene segment associated to either a polystyrene or a polymethyl methacrylate thermoplastic sequence. Formation of phase-segregated microdomains is observed on the nanometer scale. The AFM images are interpreted in terms of molecular packing with the help of molecular dynamics calculations.