Honeycomb Patterned Sps/Tio₂ Hybrid Films Derived from Bf Technique and Gelation

Abstract

Honeycomb patterned hybrid films were prepared from sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) by a combination of the “breath figure” technique with a gelation process. The influences of solvents, concentration and the mass ratio of SPS/TBT in the hybrid sols on the morphology of the honeycomb films were investigated. The results from SEM, FTIR, DSC, TG and XRD showed that well-ordered films were formed when benzene was used as solvent, the mass ratios of SPS/TBT in the range of 10/1∼1/2 and the concentration of SPS maintained in the range of 20-80 mg/mL.

Breath Figure: A Nature-Inspired Preparation Method for Ordered Porous Films

“…For example, by reducing the environment pressure, the evaporation process was accelerated markedly, leading to a lower surface temperature and larger pores in the final BFA . The gas velocity, ,,,,, the boiling point of the solvent, ,,,− and the solution concentration ,,,, can also influence the evaporation rate. Generally speaking, a higher gas velocity, lower boiling point, and lower solution concentration will lead to a higher evaporation rate and lower surface temperature.…”