Inorganic Nanoarchitectures by Organic Self-Assembly
By: by Stefan Guldin
Contributors: SpringerLink (Online service)
Series: Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Imprint: Springer
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Heidelberg
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Number of pages: 165
ISBN-13: 9783319003122
Subjects: Thin Films Surface and Interface Science; Optics, Optoelectronics, Plasmonics and Optical Devices; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics Soft and Granular Matter; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Physics; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical materials
Description: Macromolecular self-assembly - driven by weak, non-covalent, intermolecular forces - is a common principle of structure formation in natural and synthetic organic materials. The variability in material arrangement on the nanometre length scale makes this an ideal way of matching  the structure-function demands of photonic and optoelectronic devices. However, suitable soft matter systems typically lack the appropriate photoactivity, conductivity or chemically stability. This thesis explores the implementation of soft matter design principles for inorganic thin film nanoarchitectures. Sacrificial block copolymers and colloids are employed as structure-directing agents for the co-assembly of solution-based inorganic materials, such as TiO_2 and SiO_2.  Novel fabrication and characterization methods allow unprecedented control of material formation on the 10 – 500 nm length scale, allowing the design of material architectures with interesting photonic and optoelectronic properties.
Table of contents: title: From the Contents: Self-Assembly of Soft Matter; title: Optical aspects of thin films and interfaces; title: Structure-function interplay in dye-sensitised solar cells; title: Experimental and analytical techniques; title: Block copolymer-induced structure control for inorganic nanomaterials; title: Crystal growth in block copolymer-derived mesoporous TiO_2.