1006421_Karim

1. Collaborative Research: Probing the Directed Assembly of Block Copolymers with Zone AnnealingAlamgir Karim, University of Akron, DMR 1006421 Ultrathin block copolymer films are important to next generation nano-technology applications such as plastic solar cells (energy) and nanoporous membranes for biofiltration (sustainability). We developed a low temperature dynamic thermal processing method termed zone annealing to finely tune diverse block nanostructures, not possible by traditional oven annealing methods. => Nanoscale structures in low molecular weight diblock copolymer films can be precisely oriented via shallow thermal gradients where as higher molecular weight require sharp gradients [Fig.1]. => Depending on film thickness, block copolymer morphology can be tuned from highly ordered parallel cylinders to highly ordered perpendicular cylinders by zone annealing [Fig. 2]. Fig. 2 AFM images for zone annealed films at ▼T of 40 oC mm-1 with varying film thickness compared to corresponding oven annealed films. Fig. 1 AFM images for zone annealed films of block copolymers with varying molecular weight and dynamic temperature gradient.

2. Collaborative Research: Probing the Directed Assembly of Block Copolymers with Zone AnnealingAlamgir Karim, University of Akron, DMR 1006421 Matthew Schwenning’s research in Dr. Karim’s laboratory was presented at 2 fairs in North Eastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF). It received 3rd place overall and $150 in prizes. At the district fair at University of Akron it receiving a superior rating and the grand prize at the BEST Medicine Science fair. Sindhuja Chari conducted research in Dr. Karim’ laboratory in developing optically detectable nanoparticles as probes of surface defects in polymer coated surfaces. This work is relevant to detecting physico-chemical defects during the Chemical Mechanical Planarizing (CMP) process, with a potential 40x time-cost savings for the silicon chip industry. NSF-REU student Sindhuja Chari and St. Vincent St. Mary’s (STVM) high school student Matthew Schwenning conducted research on nanotechnology projects with graduate student Chaitanya Pratiwada and post-doc Manish Kulkarni in Prof. A. Karim’s laboratory in 2011.