Self-assembled Polymer Molecules

Image depicts how polymer molecules self-assemble to line up vertically, a hard-to-achieve nanoscale “posture” fostered by the rough substrate on which the thin film forms. 

The initially flat substrate of silicon (gray) was controllably roughened by adding a layer of nanoparticles (orange). A layer of self-organizing polymer material (block copolymer) was then added atop. 

Getting block copolymers in thin-film coatings to stand perpendicular to the template is a desired patterning capability important for nanotech applications. 

The image was generated with 3-D rendering software that merged different nanoscale height-scans, obtained using an atomic force microscope.