Nanopatterning of substrates by self-assembly in supramolecular block copolymer monolayer films

Many technological applications require templates with nanoscale patterns. Block copolymer self-assembly is a method of choice for obtaining a large variety of such patterns, with greatest flexibility achieved when combined with a supramolecular approach. One of the ways to fabricate block copolymer templates is the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Here, we briefly summarize recent work with LB films of polystyrene-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-P4VP) mixed with 3-n-pentade cylphenol (PDP), illustrating the different types of patterns possible and the principles governing them. One interesting pattern that can be easily achieved with this system is the so-called “nanostrand network”, which, when used as a template for gold deposition, can produce double striped lines of gold. Here, we show how this pattern can be modified by acetone swelling to give rise to gold monolayer ribbons with internal structure. The results also suggest new insights into the early stages of morphology formation at the air/water interface.