The control of structure and thermal stability in semicrystalline polymer films remains an important challenge in applications ranging from solar energy devices to packaging films. Here, we demonstrate the ability to dramatically alter the morphology and melting temperature (T_m) of low-molecular-weight linear polyethylene (PE) by employing an innovative vapor-assisted deposition process termed matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). We report the ability to tune T_m of PE films by 20 °C by simply adjusting the deposition temperature during MAPLE processing. This unique capability stems from the ability of MAPLE to exploit confined crystallization during thin film growth. In addition, we demonstrate the ability to exploit MAPLE to design PE films that exhibit the same T_m as their melt-crystallized analogues but have an ∼25% higher degree of crystallinity. Our investigation offers new insights into how confinement effects in polymer crystallization can be utilized in the emerging field of polymer film fabrication by MAPLE to control structure and key material properties of semicrystalline polymer films.

中文翻译：

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通过MAPLE调整聚乙烯薄膜的形貌和熔融温度

在从太阳能器件到包装薄膜的各种应用中，控制半结晶聚合物薄膜的结构和热稳定性仍然是一个重要的挑战。在这里，我们展示了通过采用称为基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发（MAPLE）的创新气相辅助沉积工艺，能够显着改变低分子量线性聚乙烯（PE）的形态和熔融温度（T _m）的能力。我们报告了调谐T _m的能力通过在MAPLE处理过程中简单地调节沉积温度，可将PE膜的温度降低20°C。这种独特的能力源于MAPLE在薄膜生长过程中利用有限结晶的能力。此外，我们证明了利用MAPLE设计PE膜的能力，该膜表现出与熔融结晶类似物相同的T _m，但结晶度高约25％。我们的研究提供了新的见解，以探讨如何通过MAPLE在新兴的聚合物膜制造领域中利用聚合物结晶中的约束效应来控制半结晶聚合物膜的结构和关键材料性能。