Virginia TechSaraf, Ravi F.Niu, S.Stumb, Eric2014-02-032014-02-032002-06-01Saraf, RF; Niu, S; Stumb, E, "Spontaneous planarization of nanoscale phase separated thin film," Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 4425 (2002); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.14811870003-6951http://hdl.handle.net/10919/25276Structure of complex fluid at mesoscales is influenced by interfacial effects. We describe the dynamic response in such films to sudden change in interfacial tension. In a self-assembled block copolymer film, the monolayer of 15 nm diam cylindrical discrete phases close to the surface commence to sink at an average rate of 0.16 nm/day in response to the interfacial tension change. Surprisingly, this spontaneous planarization occurs, even though the cylinders are covalently stitched to the matrix. A simple model explains the observed behavior. The observation may lead to approaches to tailor the structure of mesoscale thin films of complex fluids for long-range order that are desirable for nanoscale device fabrication. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.application/pdfen-USIn CopyrightLiquid crystalsPolyimideSurfacesNanostructuresMorphologyCopolymersPhysicsArticle - Refereedhttp://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/80/23/10.1063/1.1481187https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1481187