Grain rotation in ion-complexed symmetric diblock copolymer thin films under an electric field

In symmetric polystyrene-block-poly( methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymer thin films, lithium-PMMA complexes were formed with the addition of lithium chloride (LiCl), significantly increasing both chi and dielectric constant. These led to a transition in the kinetic pathway of the orientation of lamellar microdomains under an applied electric field from a disruption and re-formation of the microdomains to a grain rotation mediated by movement of defects. By controlling the number of lithium-PMMA complexes, the microdomain alignment is possibly regulated in PS-b-PMMA copolymer thin films.