INVESTIGATION OF PERIODIC STRUCTURES OF POLYETHYLENE CRYSTAL LAMELLAS WITH STM

We have prepared polyethylene thin films with the ionized cluster beam (ICB) deposition technique. There are perfect polyethylene crystal lamellas in the thin films. We have observed the polyethylene lamellar surface topography with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and found the fold chain structures on the (001) surface of polyethylene crystal lamellas first. We have analyzed polyethylene thin films with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and found the (001) plane parallel to the surface of the substrate. There are strict periodic structures in the (110) plane, but no good periodic structures in the [110] direction.Chemistry, PhysicalMaterials Science, Coatings & FilmsPhysics, AppliedPhysics, Condensed MatterSCI(E)