Undulational instabilities of smectic thin films on heterogeneous patterned surfaces under positive and negative strain: The case of diblock copolymers

G. G. Pereira*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We consider the problem of a thin smectic film placed on a periodically striped solid surface, with stripe width λ, and with the upper surface free. The striped surface-smectic fluid interfacial energy induces the lamellae to align perpendicularly to the surface. We show that in many cases both the bulk liquid and the free upper surface will undulate to relieve the frustration caused by the stripes. In marked contrast to the traditional Helfrich-Hurault instability we show that this new instability occurs under both extension and compression. As a concrete example we consider a symmetric diblock copolymer thin film melt, with bulk equilibrium AB-BA bilayer spacing L2. When L2 <2λ these undulations will be enhanced while for L2>2λ. they will be diminished.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)9223-9229
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Chemical Physics
    Volume110
    Issue number18
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 8 May 1999

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