Film formation from nano-sized polystrene latex covered with various TiO2 layers

Abstract

Steady-state fluorescence technique was used for studying film formation from TiO2 covered nano-sized polystyrene latex particles. The composite films were prepared from pyrene (P)-labeled PS particles by covering them with various layers of TiO2 at room temperature. These films then annealed at elevated temperatures in 10 min time interval above glass transition (T-g) temperature of polystyrene. Five different composite films were studied in various TiO2 layer contents. Fluorescence emission intensity, I-P from P was measured after each annealing step to monitor the stages of film formation. Films present significant increase in I-P above the certain onset temperature called minimum film forming temperature, To. However, at higher annealing temperatures, I-P showed a decrease. Increase and decrease in I-P were modeled by void closure and interdiffusion processes and related activation energies were determined, respectively. Dissolution of annealed PS film, with high TiO2 content presented a nice, ordered nanosized ceramic structure, which may predict the construction of nano-layer photonic crystals.