Nanoscale surface roughness induced by poor solvents on polymer film surfaces

We describe a new nanoscale morphology that is produced when polymer surfaces are exposed to a poor solvent. We have measured the morphology on polystyrene surfaces after exposure to pentane, heptane, or dodecane as well as poly(methyl methacrylate) exposed to propanol or methanol. The length scale of the morphology was determined by analyzing images obtained by atomic force microscopy. For the case of polystyrene, we perform a detailed characterization of the morphology for all solvents and molecular weight values Mw$$M_\textrm{w}$$ ranging from 8 to 995 kg/mol. Comparing the results to models of dimpling morphology in densely grafted chains suggests the same mechanism is responsible.Graphical abstract