Ebook: Inorganic Nanoarchitectures by Organic Self-Assembly

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.

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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.

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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.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Self-Assembly of Soft Matter....Pages 1-17
Optical Aspects of Thin Films and Interfaces....Pages 19-32
Structure-Function Interplay in Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells....Pages 33-50
Experimental and Analytical Techniques....Pages 51-69
Block Copolymer-Induced Structure Control for Inorganic Nanomaterials....Pages 71-85
Crystal Growth in Block Copolymer-Derived Mesoporous TiO $_2$ 2 ....Pages 87-100
Thin Film Processing of Block Copolymer Structure-Directed Inorganic Materials....Pages 101-115
Tunable Mesoporous Bragg Reflectors Based on Block Copolymer Self-Assembly....Pages 117-127
Dye-Sensitised Solar Cell Based on a Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystal....Pages 129-140
Block Copolymer Assembled Antireflective Coatings with Self-Cleaning Properties....Pages 141-154
Conclusions....Pages 155-158
Back Matter....Pages 159-165

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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.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvii
Self-Assembly of Soft Matter....Pages 1-17
Optical Aspects of Thin Films and Interfaces....Pages 19-32
Structure-Function Interplay in Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells....Pages 33-50
Experimental and Analytical Techniques....Pages 51-69
Block Copolymer-Induced Structure Control for Inorganic Nanomaterials....Pages 71-85
Crystal Growth in Block Copolymer-Derived Mesoporous TiO $_2$ 2 ....Pages 87-100
Thin Film Processing of Block Copolymer Structure-Directed Inorganic Materials....Pages 101-115
Tunable Mesoporous Bragg Reflectors Based on Block Copolymer Self-Assembly....Pages 117-127
Dye-Sensitised Solar Cell Based on a Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystal....Pages 129-140
Block Copolymer Assembled Antireflective Coatings with Self-Cleaning Properties....Pages 141-154
Conclusions....Pages 155-158
Back Matter....Pages 159-165
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