U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research: Block Polymers Confined onTwo-Dimensional Surfaces: Morphology, Thermodynamics, and Application for Surface Modification

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This award provides support for a cooperative research project between Professor Matthew Tirrell, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota and Professor Tadao Kotaka, Department of Macro- molecular Science, Osaka University, Japan. The objectives of the project are to investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the morphology and some aspects of the properties of model block polymers adsorbed and confined on surfaces of substrates of various types. Block polymers confined in two-dimensional regions, such as those adsorbed on surfaces of given substrates, are in a special thermodynamic state different from that of a more familiar three-dimensional bulk. Physico-chemical properties of such thin layers are very important scientifically, in the sense that surfaces may alter thermodynamic order-disorder transitions, as well as for practical applications such as adhesion, surface modification and functionalization. The researchers will study the relationships among surface morphology, molecular structure and surface physico-chemical properties of block polymers confined on two-dimensional structures, to clarify the factors controlling the surface morphology of the block polymers, and to obtain information on how to attain well- controlled surface morphology formation, modification and functionalization. The strengths of the two research teams are very complementary, the Japanese team having a great deal of experience in synthesis and characterization under conventional means and the US team having almost unique expertise in characterization of surfaces and materials in confined dimensions. These studies will hopefully yield new ways of preparing films with specific morphologies and consequently, novel properties, thus enhancing our ability to fabricate films with desired characteristics for technological applications.