Crystallization of adsorbed polymer monolayers

We present atomic force microscopy results and corresponding computer simulations on crystallization of quasi-2D monolayers of polyetheleneoxid adsorbed onto bare silicon wafers. Fingerlike branched patterns with a characteristic width w resulted from crystallization at temperatures T-c below the melting point T-m. w decreased exponentially as (T-m - T-c) increased. The patterns are explained by a simple model considering the interplay of transport on the surface and the probability of attachment to the crystal.