| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R80919/01 |
| Title: |
Use of Electric Fields for Controlled Patterning of Thin Polymer Films |
| Principal Investigator: |
Bucknall, Professor D |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Materials |
| Organisation: |
University of Oxford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2002 |
Ends: |
30 June 2004 |
Value (£): |
122,580
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Surfaces & Interfaces |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This research aims to investigate the effect of applying an electric field to unstable polymer films as a means of inducing patterning. Preliminary studies have shown that capped polymer films that are otherwise stable, become unstable and produce surface topographes which are very different from the typical patterns observed in dewetting. The periodicity of these features is of order microns, and is mostly isotropically oriented, although areas of highly linear features also form. This project will investigate the control of the topological feature size, direction and anisotropy by using bilayer polymer films of mixed flexibility under the influence of an electric field. This will be achieved through a capping layer of different mechanical strength at the annealing temperature, from a soft rubber to a rigid glass. Coupled with these studies will be an investigation of the role played by substrate topography and periodically variable thickness capping layers as methods of controlling the direction of the resulting patterning and feature sizes.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ox.ac.uk |