Our objective is to understand
the effect of confining geometries on the morphology of component
moelcules. To do this we will study a range of polymer blends in
controlled environments and under the influence of external
fields. The morphology of immiscible polymer blends as a function
of film thickness will also be investigated (the thickness of
polymer films is predicted to affect their miscibility).
The phase diagram of thin polymer
blend films will be studied as a function of film thickness by a
range of techniques including scanning probe techniques, imaging
ellipsometry (to detect changes in the miscibility on the micron
scale), and spectroscopic ellipsometry (to detect changes in the
refractive index of ultra-thin films).
We also intend to monitor how
molecules change shape as film dimensions change, for example as
a result of evaporation of a solvent. We will study the drying of
a range of different polymer films under controlled solvent and
temperature environments. Quartz crystal microbalance and
theoretical models will be employed in these studies as well as
in-situ ellipsometry under controlled solvent environments to
study these films as they dry.
More details:
Ullrich Steiner at the
University of Cambridge is in overall charge of this element of
the programme.
