title: Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy as an in situ tool to study the kinetics during self-assembly of mesostructured films.
abstract: Rapid scan time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been used to investigate in situ the kinetics of the chemical processes involved in the formation of self-assembled mesostructured films. The experiments have been done in transmission mode on films cast on a diamond disk using an infrared microscope. Two specific materials have been studied: silica and titania mesoporous films templated by a triblock copolymer surfactant (Pluronic F-127). The time dependence of solvent evaporation and condensation of the chemical species have been clearly observed. Different stages in the film formation have been identified, which support well the general theory of self-assembly. The in situ FTIR spectroscopy using time-resolved rapid scan has proven to be a very effective tool for in situ analysis of film formation from a liquid phase.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Architettura e Pianificazione, Laboratorio di Scienza dei Materiali e Nanotecnologie, Università di Sassari, Nanoworld Institute, Palazzo del Pou Salid, Piazza Duomo 6, 07041 Alghero (Sassari), Italy. plinio@uniss.it
authors.forename: Plinio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Innocenzi
authors.forename: Tongjit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kidchob
authors.forename: Johnny Mio
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bertolo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.forename: Mariangela Cestelli
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcelli