Fabrication method can affect the use of block copolymer thin
films A new study by a team including scientists from the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicates
that thin polymer films can have different properties depending
on the method by which they are made. The results* suggest that
deeper work is necessary to explore the best way of creating
these films, which are used in applications ranging from high-
tech mirrors to computer memory devices. Thin films spread atop
a surface have many applications in industry. Inexpensive
organic solar cells might be made of such films, to name one
potential use. Typically they're made by dissolving the polymer,
and then spreading a small amount of the liquid out on a
surface, called a substrate. The solution becomes a film as the
solvent dries and the remainder solidifies. But as this happens,
stresses develop within the film that can affect its structure.
Manufacturers would like to know more about how to control these
stresses to ensure the fil