Dynamics from Buried Polymer-Polymer Interfaces in Thin Films

ORAL

Abstract

We report a further development of X-ray photon correlation spectrocopy (XPCS) in order to probe capillary wave dynamics at a buried polymer interface of a bilayer. The bi-layer was chosen so that the critical angle for total external reflection for the top layer is smaller than that for the bottom layer. When x-rays are incident below the critical angle of the top layer only the structure and dynamics of the top layer are probed. When x-rays are incident above the critical angle of the top layer but below that of the bottom layer, a standing wave is set up. The phase of this standing wave can be adjusted to have a maxima at the polymer-polymer interface and simultaneously a node at the polymer-air interface. Consequently, one can isolate the static scattering and XPCS from the buried layer. Results on a system consisting of a 100 nm polystyrene (PS) film on top of an 100 nm polybromostyrene (PBrS) film, supported on a Si substrate will be reported. The dynamics are consistent with a low-viscosity mixed layer between the PS and PBrS.

–

Authors

  • Jyotsana Lal

  • Xuesong Hu

    Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL-60439, USA.

  • Zhang Jiang

    University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, Sogang University

  • Sunil Sinha

    University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA-92093, USA., Dept. of Physics, Univ. of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, University of California, San Diego and Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Suresh Narayanan

    Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, IL 60439, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, IL 60439, Argonne National Laboratory, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, Argonne National Lab

  • Alec Sandy

    Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, IL 60439, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL-60439, USA., Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab

  • Xuesong Jiao

    Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, IL 60439

  • Laurence Lurio

    Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL-60115, USA., Northern Illinois University, Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University