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Formation and Evolution of Body‐Centered Orthorhombic Mesophase in TiO 2 Thin Films
Author(s) -
Zhang Yu,
Sim Chow Hong,
Yuwono Akhmad Herman,
Li Jun,
Wang John
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2009.03027.x
Subject(s) - mesophase , materials science , orthorhombic crystal system , transmission electron microscopy , ethylene oxide , crystallography , scanning electron microscope , propylene oxide , substrate (aquarium) , oxide , chemical engineering , composite material , copolymer , liquid crystal , nanotechnology , crystal structure , chemistry , polymer , optoelectronics , oceanography , geology , engineering , metallurgy
A new mesophase orientation has been established in TiO 2 thin films formed by self‐assembling of a poly(ethylene oxide)‐ b ‐poly(propylene oxide)‐ b ‐poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127). They were then characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and X‐ray diffraction. This new mesophase was identified and indexed as a body‐centered orthorhombic mesophase structure with the (001) plane parallel to the substrate. It may well originate from a body‐centered tetragonal structure, orienting with the square base perpendicular to the substrate. The mesophase then underwent a uniaxial contraction in the direction normal to the substrate upon drying and thermal treatment. As a result, the in‐plane parameters were preserved whereas the out‐of‐plane parameters were markedly reduced by heating.