title: Selective Template Wetting Routes to Hierarchical Polymer Films: Polymer Nanotubes from Phase-Separated Films via Solvent Annealing.
abstract: We demonstrate a novel wetting method to prepare hierarchical polymer films with polymer nanotubes on selective regions. This strategy is based on the selective wetting abilities of polymer chains, annealed in different solvent vapors, into the nanopores of porous templates. Phase-separated films of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), two commonly used polymers, are prepared as a model system. After anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates are placed on the films, the samples are annealed in vapors of acetic acid, in which the PMMA chains are swollen and wet the nanopores of the AAO templates selectively. As a result, hierarchical polymer films containing PMMA nanotubes can be obtained after the AAO templates are removed. The distribution of the PMMA nanotubes of the hierarchical polymer films can also be controlled by changing the compositions of the polymer blends. This work not only presents a novel method to fabricate hierarchical polymer films with polymer nanotubes on selective regions, but also gives a deeper understanding in the selective wetting ability of polymer chains in solvent vapors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010.
authors.forename: Hao-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010.
authors.forename: Ming-Hsiang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010.
authors.forename: Mu-Huan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010.
authors.forename: Chun-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu, Taiwan 30010.
authors.forename: Jiun-Tai
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen