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Three-dimensionally ordered array of air bubbles in a polymer film
M Srinivasarao1, D Collings, A Philips
1School of Textile and Fiber Engineering and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. mohan@tfe.gatech.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 9, 2001
Summary
Researchers created ordered air bubbles in polymer films using airflow and evaporative cooling. This technique allows control over bubble size for applications in photonic materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Creating ordered macroporous materials is challenging.
- Existing methods often lack control over pore size and arrangement.
- Applications in photonics require precise control over material structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel method for forming three-dimensionally ordered arrays of air bubbles in polymer films.
- To investigate the templating mechanism based on thermocapillary convection.
- To demonstrate control over bubble dimensions via airflow velocity.
Main Methods:
- Casting dilute polymer solutions in volatile solvents on glass slides.
- Utilizing a flowing stream of moist air across the surface.
- Employing evaporative cooling to induce breath figures and form water droplet arrays.
Main Results:
- Formation of a three-dimensionally ordered array of hexagonally packed water droplets.
- Preservation of these droplet arrays as spherical air bubbles in the final polymer film.
- Demonstrated control over bubble dimensions by adjusting airflow velocity.
Conclusions:
- Thermocapillary convection provides an effective templating mechanism for ordered porous materials.
- The developed method offers simple control over pore size in polymer films.
- These ordered macroporous materials are promising for photonic band gap and optical stop-band applications.
