Photonic Block Copolymer Films Swollen with an Ionic Liquid

Nonvolatile solvent swollen 1D periodic films were fabricated from lamellae-forming block copolymers with medium molecular weight by infiltrating an ionic liquid. A mixture of imidazole and imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide as a room temperature ionic liquid was added after spin-coating of thin films of polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-P2VP) block copolymers having an approximately 50/50 composition to create photonic films reflecting in the visible regime. Under normal conditions of temperature and humidity, the films maintained their photonic properties for more than 100 days without perceptible change, stemming from the nonvolatility of the ionic liquid. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the selective swelling of the P2VP nanodomains by the IL and ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering measurements provided quantitative nanostructure information on the periodicities of the films. The wavelength of reflected light from photonic films was tunable by using different molecular weight block copolymers as well as by employing blends of two block copolymers. The experimental wavelength of the reflected light, detected by a fiber-optic spectrophotometer, agreed with values estimated from the Bragg condition and was able to be controlled from about 380 to 620 nm.