In situ observation of the evaporation-induced self-assembling process of PS-b-PEO diblock copolymers for the fabrication of titania films by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Abstract

The drying process of clear precursor solutions for fabricating highly porous titania films was observed by CLSM. Further, we succeeded in detecting the formation of micelles in the precursor solution containing high-molecular-weight PS-b-PEO diblock copolymers at the initial stage of the drying process as the direct evidence that this synthesis consisted of the EISA process.