Self-Assembled and Micro-Patterned Mesoscopic Thin Films

Abstract

Recently we have reported that the silica mesoscopic thin films can be formed at water/solid interface at room temperature. These self-assembled thin films are comprised of hexagonally packed nanotubules ((∼ 5 nm in diameter), with a percolating one-dimensional channel network that extends from one side of the film to the other. The solid substrate can affect strongly the overall alignment of assembly of surfactant micelle array. These films hold much promise for applications such as their use as orientated nanowires, sensor/actuator arrays and optoelectronic devices. Here, we report further electron microscopy studies of free standing thin film formed at air/water interface and patterned silica mesoscopic thin film formed with the guidance of micro-molding and electric field.We employ tetraethoxy silane (TEOS), dissolved in acidic solution, as a silicate source and cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) as the templating surfactant. Typical molar ratios are 1 TEOS : 1.2 CTAC : 9.2 HC1 : 1000 H2O.