Silica thin films with a two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal structure were produced from
TEOS and the F127 triblock copolymer PEO106PPO70PEO106. The structure of the films was
deduced from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) performed on microtomed sections
and from a 2D X-ray scattering technique adapted for film characterization. Both methods
are complementary and allow for a detailed characterization of the film structure. The pore
channels within the coatings are organized in domains, which spin and curve inside the
film, but align with the surface plan at the air/film and film/substrate interfaces. The
formation of the film was monitored by in situ time-resolved SAXS experiments to follow
the structural evolution during the first minutes after deposition. Cylindrical micelles, which
gives rise to a wormlike structure, form first at the air/film interface and extend toward the
film/substrate interface via solvent evaporation. When most of the liquid phase is evaporated,
the well-aligned domains located at both interfaces are obtained by a self-arrangement of
the micelles parallel to the interfaces. This rearrangement occurs when the film is considered
to be dry. The atom content profiles in the as-prepared films were obtained by Rutherford
backscattering (RBS) and show homogeneous distribution of atoms throughout the film
thickness. To stiffen the network and remove the surfactant, various postsynthesis treatments
were applied to the coatings, that is, thermal treatment, base-catalyzed condensation, and
solvent extraction. Each method induces shrinkage, leading to 2D-centered rectangular films
through a contraction of the initial 2D hexagonal structure. As-prepared and treated films
exhibit excellent optical transparency and high degree of organization. Ellipsometry
measurements and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms were thus used to estimate the
refractive index and the porosity of the films. Refractive index down to 1.2 was obtained in
the film that was pretreated under a NH3 atmosphere before solvent extraction of the
surfactant. This shows the efficiency of this treatment to minimize the network shrinkage.
N2 adsorption−desorption measurement performed on films calcined at 350 °C gives a surface
area of 800 m2 g-1 and a porosity of 63%.
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