Block site-selective doping

Further modification of the above nanostructures is useful for obtaining new functional materials. Thirdly, we apply the dopant-induced laser ablation technique to site-selectively doped thin diblock copolymer films with spheres (sea-island), cylinders (hole-network), and wormlike structures on the nanoscale [19, 20]. When the dye-doped component parts are ablated away by laser light, the films are modified selectively. Concerning the laser ablation of diblock copolymer films, Lengl et al. carried out the excimer laser ablation of diblock copolymer monolayer films, forming spherical micelles loaded with an Au salt to obtain metallic Au nanodots [21]. They used the laser ablation to remove the polymer matrix. In our experiment, however, the laser ablation is used to remove one component of block copolymers. Thereby, we can expect to obtain new functional materials with novel nanostmctures. 

Nanoscale Morphological Change of PS-b-P4VP Block Copolymer Films Induced by Site-Selective Doping of a Photoactive Chromophore... 

For symmetric PS-fo-P4VP (20 000 19 000) diblock copolymer films with the wormlike phase separation structures, the TCPP-doped films were irradiated using one laser shot with a fluence of 150 mJ cm in air. The ablation phenomenon is observed for this irradiation fluence (Figure 12.5c and f), but it is difficult to conclude that this is a selective ablation of the doped-P4VP parts. We cannot deny the possibility that the decomposition of the P4VP parts affects the PS parts because of the existence of large interfaces between the two symmetric blocks in wormlike structures. Thus, for the site-selective ablation of diblock copolymer films, the surface morphology of the phase separation structures is one of the most important parameters. 

---