Alteration of classical microdomain patterns of block copolymers by degenerate epitaxy

Degenerate crystallization onto a crystalline substrate was attempted to induce a new microphase-separated structure. The microstructure was initiated by the two equivalent epitaxial orientations with respect to the crystalline organic substrate of the crystallizable block of a semicrystalline block terpolymer. The double epitaxy was shown by selected area diffraction (SAD). Phase and mass thickness bright field (BF) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), along with atomic force microscopy (AFM), was used to characterize the lamellae and the cylindrical domains.