류두열 연구실

Block copolymers (BCPs) can self-assemble into various nanostructures by microphase separation with domain sizes of 10-100 nm. Applications include data storage, lithography, nanowire fabrication, nanoparticle deposition, membranes, and optical metamaterials. Microdomain size can be manipulated through pre-patterned substrates, external fields, or interface design.

Physical properties of polymer films are significantly affected by interfacial interactions with adjacent surfaces, including glass transition temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, order-disorder transition, and wetting/dewetting behavior. Research focuses on autophobic dewetting and thermal behavior on preferential/nonpreferential substrates.

Order-disorder transition temperature in film geometry is influenced by interfacial interactions such as preferential and neutral substrates. The effect becomes more pronounced as film thickness decreases. Ultra small angle X-ray scattering is used to study transition behavior, with collaboration on SCFT simulation.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to analyze nanoscale periodic structures with electron density differences. The group uses both transmission SAXS for bulk polymers and grazing-incidence SAXS (GISAXS) for polymer thin films.

Polymer baroplasticity allows polymers to flow at relatively mild pressure, making it desirable for recycling and regenerating material industries. In baroplastic block copolymers, compressibility leads to enhanced miscibility with pressure, causing ordered states to become phase-mixed or disordered phases.