Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31941037›Full record

ArticleNanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2020

Characterisation of the PS-PMMA Interfaces in Microphase Separated Block Copolymer Thin Films by Analytical (S)TEM.

Julius Bürger, Vinay S Kunnathully, Daniel Kool, Jörg K N Lindner, Katharina Brassat

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Julius Bürger'Nanostructuring, Nanoanalysis and Photonic Materials' Group, Department of Physics, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
Vinay S Kunnathully'Nanostructuring, Nanoanalysis and Photonic Materials' Group, Department of Physics, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
Daniel Kool'Nanostructuring, Nanoanalysis and Photonic Materials' Group, Department of Physics, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9090-8677
Jörg K N Lindner'Nanostructuring, Nanoanalysis and Photonic Materials' Group, Department of Physics, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2367-9610
Katharina Brassat'Nanostructuring, Nanoanalysis and Photonic Materials' Group, Department of Physics, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4420-9389

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly is a promising tool for next generation lithography as microphase separated polymer domains in thin films can act as templates for surface nanopatterning with sub-20 nm features. The replicated patterns can, however, only be as precise as their templates. Thus, the investigation of the morphology of polymer domains is of great importance. Commonly used analytical techniques (neutron scattering, scanning force microscopy) either lack spatial information or nanoscale resolution. Using advanced analytical (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM), we provide real space information on polymer domain morphology and interfaces between polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in cylinder- and lamellae-forming BCPs at highest resolution. This allows us to correlate the internal structure of polymer domains with line edge roughnesses, interface widths and domain sizes. STEM is employed for high-resolution imaging, electron energy loss spectroscopy and energy filtered TEM (EFTEM) spectroscopic imaging for material identification and EFTEM thickness mapping for visualisation of material densities at defects. The volume fraction of non-phase separated polymer species can be analysed by EFTEM. These methods give new insights into the morphology of polymer domains the exact knowledge of which will allow to improve pattern quality for nanolithography.

Indexed as

block copolymersline edge roughness LERnanostructure metrologypolymer interfaceself-assembly(S)TEMSTEM-EELS of PS and PMMA

Identifiers

PMID31941037
PMCPMC7022429

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.