Mesoporous titanium dioxide films using partially fluorinated surfactant templates in ethanol

Abstract

Mesoporous titanium dioxide films have been produced via a self assembly pathway at the air–ethanol interface using partially fluorinated surfactants as structure directing agents. The high level of surface activity displayed by partially fluorinated compounds in alcohols has been used to generate an ordered film at the air–solution interface, as titanium oligomers condense into an ordered inorganic network. The minimisation and exclusion of water in these preparations directs structure formation at the interface and slows the titania polymerisation. X-ray scattering and Brewster angle microscopy techniques have been used to study the formation and structure of these materials.