Browsing by Author "Tsai, Chia-Chan"

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15

Confinement Effects on the Optical Properties and Chain Conformations of Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) Nanotubes
(2016-09)
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Jeng, Kai-Sheng
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Cheng, Ming-Hsiang
Although many fabrication methods of conjugated polymer nanostructures have been developed, the effects of confinement on the morphologies, chain conformations, and optical properties of conjugated polymers are still not well understood. In this work, poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT), a light-emitting conjugated polymer, is used to fabricate nanotubes by a solution wetting method using anodic aluminum oxide templates. The property changes under the nanoscale confinement have been investigated. The morphologies of F8BT nanostructures are characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and laser scanning confocal microscope. The data show the hollow morphologies and no or low crystallinity of the nanostructures. The optical properties are also measured using UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, and confocal Raman spectroscopy. The spectroscopy data indicate that F8BT polymer chains have less intermolecular interactions and coplanarity under the confinement effect.
Dewetting of polymer thin films on modified curved surfaces: preparation of polymer nanoparticles with asymmetric shapes by anodic aluminum oxide templates
(2018-04-21)
Liu, Chih-Ting
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Chung, Pei-Yun
We study the dewetting behaviors of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films coated in the cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates by thermal annealing. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS) are introduced to modify the pore surfaces of the AAO templates to induce the dewetting process. By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the dewetting-induced morphology transformation from the PMMA thin films to PMMA nanoparticles with asymmetric shapes can be observed. The sizes of the PMMA nanoparticles can be controlled by the original PMMA solution concentrations. The dewetting phenomena on the modified nanopores are explained by taking into account the excess intermolecular interaction free energy (AG). This work opens a new possibility for creating polymer nanoparticles with asymmetric shapes in confined geometries.
Effect of the Polymer Concentration on the Rayleigh-Instability-Type Transformation in Polymer Thin Films Coated in the Nanopores of Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates
(2015-03-03)
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
應用化學系
;
Department of Applied Chemistry
We study the Rayleigh-instability-type transformation of polystyrene (PS) thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The PS thin films are fabricated using a solution-wetting method, in which the wall thicknesses are controlled by the concentrations of the polymer solutions and the diameters of the nanopores. By thermal annealing, the surfaces of the thin films undulate and the morphologies transform from nanotubes to Rayleigh-instability-induced nanostructures (short nanorods) and long nanorods. To understand the mechanism of the morphology transformation further, we construct the morphology diagrams by annealing the PS thin films at different temperatures and times. We observe that the morphology diagrams of the PS thin films prepared by different concentrations are similar, indicating that the transformation kinetics are not affected by the film thicknesses. The values of the undulation wavelengths, however, are controlled by the film thicknesses and the diameters of the nanopores.
Fabrication of Electrospun Polymer Fibers with Nonspherical Cross-Sections Using a Nanopressing Technique
(2016-02)
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
Kao, Yi-Huei
;
Kuo, Tyng-Yow
;
Liu, Chih-Ting
;
Chiu, Yu-Jing
The fabrication of electrospun polymer fibers is demonstrated with anisotropic cross-sections by applying a simple pressing method. Electrospun polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) fibers are pressed by flat or patterned substrates while the samples are annealed at elevated temperatures. The shapes and morphologies of the pressed polymer fibers are controlled by the experimental conditions such as the pressing force, the pressing temperature, the pressing time, and the surface pattern of the substrate. At the same pressing force, the shape changes of the polymer fibers can be controlled by the pressing time. For shorter pressing times, the deformation process is dominated by the effect of pressing and fibers with barrel-shaped cross-sections can be generated. For longer pressing times, the effect of wetting becomes more important and fibers with dumbbell-shaped cross-sections can be obtained. Hierarchical polymer fibers with nanorods are fabricated by pressing the fibers with porous anodic aluminum oxide templates.
Fabrication of Multicomponent Polymer Nanostructures Containing PMMA Shells and Encapsulated PS Nanospheres in the Nanopores of Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates
(2015-03-01)
Ko, Hao-Wen
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Chang, Chun-Wei
;
Su, Chun-Hsien
;
Wei, Tzu-Hui
Multi-component polymer nanomaterials have attracted great attention because of their applications in areas such as biomedicine, tissue engineering, and organic solar cells. The precise control over the morphologies of multi-component polymer nanomaterials, however, is still a great challenge. In this work, the fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)/polystyrene (PS) nanostructures that contain PMMA shells and encapsulated PS nanospheres is studied. The nanostructures are prepared using a triple solution wetting method with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The nanopores of the templates are wetted sequentially by PS solutions in dimethylformamide (DMF), PMMA solutions in acetic acid, and water. The compositions and morphologies of the nanostructures are controlled by the interactions between the polymers, solvents, and AAO walls. This work not only presents a feasible method to prepare multi-component polymer nanomaterials, but also leads to a better understanding of polymer-solvent interactions in confined geometries.
Fabrication of Polymer Nanopeapods in the Nanopores of Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates Using a Double-Solution Wetting Method
(2014-08-12)
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
Wei, Tzu-Hui
;
Chang, Chun-Wei
;
Ko, Hao-Wen
;
Chu, Chien-Wei
Although one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials can be prepared by approaches such as the template method, the control over the morphologies of one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials containing multiple components is still a great challenge. In this work, we investigate the formation of polymer nanopeapods using a novel double-solution wetting method in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. A polystyrene (PS) solution in dimethylformamide (DMF) is first introduced into the nanopores of the AAO templates. Then a second polymer solution of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in acetic acid is infiltrated into the nanopores. Because of the stronger interaction between acetic acid and aluminum oxide than that between DMF and aluminum oxide, the PMMA solution preferentially wets the pore walls of the templates and the PS solution is isolated in the center of the nanopores. After the evaporation of the solvent, peapod-like PS/PMMA nanostructures are obtained, where the shell and the core are composed of PMMA and PS, respectively. The compositions of the polymer nanopeapods are confirmed by removing PS or PMMA selectively. The formation mechanism of the nanostructures is related to the Rayleigh-instability-type transformation and further studied by changing experimental parameters such as the polymer concentration or the polymer molecular weight. This work not only provides a simple approach to prepare multicomponent polymer nanomaterials with controlled morphologies and sizes, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of polymer solvent-interactions in confined geometries.
M Breaking embedded electrospun fibers (BEEF): Fabrication of polymer spheres encapsulated in polymer films
(2016-12)
Chi, Heng-Yu
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chiu, Yu-Jing
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
應用化學系
In this work, a novel method to fabricate polymer spheres encapsulated in polymer films by breaking embedded electrospun fibers (BEEF) was developed. Polymer fibers were first prepared by electrospinning and embedded in other polymer films using a three-layer deposition method. After thermal annealing, the electrospun fibers transform into individual spheres with regular spacing and sizes. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) are both used as the fiber or film materials. The transformation process can be observed in-situ by optical microscope (OM) and is similar to the Plateau-Rayleigh instability. The growth rates of the surface undulation of the fibers are calculated, and higher growth rates are observed at higher annealing temperatures. The sizes of the encapsulated polymer spheres agree well with the theoretical predictions. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 2463-2470
Microwave-annealing-induced nanowetting: a rapid and facile method for fabrication of one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials
(2015-01-01)
Chang, Chun-Wei
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Ko, Hao-Wen
;
Tu, Yi-Hsuan
Template wetting methods have been broadly applied to fabricate diverse one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials. The currently used template wetting methods, however, have shortcomings and disadvantages such as long processing times, thermal degradation, and difficulties in controlling the lengths. In this work, we develop a novel microwave-annealing-induced nanowetting (MAIN) method to fabricate one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials using porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Upon microwave annealing, the polymer chains are infiltrated into the nanopores of the AAO templates, and the morphologies of the polymer nanomaterials can be controlled by the annealing conditions. The growth rates of the polymer nanomaterials using the MAIN method are faster than those using the traditional thermal annealing method. This work not only provides a time-saving method to fabricate one-dimensional polymer nanomaterials with controlled morphologies, but also offers a better understanding of the effect of microwave annealing on the wetting behaviors of polymer melts.
Nanopressing: Toward Tailored Polymer Microstructures and Nanostructures
(2014-01-01)
Kao, Yi-Huei
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
應用化學系
A simple and versatile method is developed for preparing anisotropic polymer particles by pressing polymer microspheres at elevated temperatures. Polystyrene (PS) microspheres are used to demonstrate this approach. Depending on the mechanical deformation and wetting of the polymers on the substrates, polymer structures with special shapes such as barrel-like or dumbbell-like shapes can be prepared. The morphology of polymer structures can be controlled by the experimental parameters such as the pressing pressure, the pressing temperature, and the pressing time. The wetting of the polymers on the substrates dominates when the samples are annealing at higher temperatures for longer times.
On-Film Annealing: A Simple Method to Fabricate Heterogeneous Polymer Surfaces, Porous Films, and Hemispheres
(2015-07-01)
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
Lee, Po-Hsi
;
Tseng, Hsiao-Fan
;
Chiu, Yu-Jing
;
Kao, Yi-Huei
Polymer microspheres have been widely investigated because of their applications in areas such as drug delivery, latex diagnostics, and affinity bioseparators. The effect of annealing on polymer microspheres, however, has been rarely studied. In this work, we demonstrate the morphology transformation of polystyrene (PS) microspheres annealed thermally on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. During the annealing process, the PS microspheres gradually sink into the PMMA films and transform into PS hemispheres, driven by the reduction of the surface and interfacial energies. The effect of the film thicknesses on the morphology transformation is also studied. In addition, porous PMMA films or PS hemispheres can be obtained by removing the PS or the PMMA domains of the polymer composites using cyclohexane or acetic acid, respectively.
Porous Polymer Nanostructures Fabricated by the Surface-Induced Phase Separation of Polymer Solutions in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates
(2013-08-13)
Wei, Tzu-Hui
;
Chi, Mu-Huan
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Ko, Hao-Wen
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
We study the formation of porous polymer nanostructures fabricated by the surface-induced phase separation of polymer solutions in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are used to investigate the evolution process of the surface-induced phase separation. With the longer immersion time of the AAO template in the polymer solution, the size of the solvent-rich droplet is increased by the coarsening process, resulting in the formation of porous polymer nanostructures. The coarsening mechanism is further evaluated by changing the experimental parameters including the immersion time, the polymer concentration, the polymer molecular weight, and the solvent quality. Under conditions in which polymer solutions have higher viscosities, the coarsening process is slowed down and the formation of the porous nanostructures is prohibited. The prevention of the porous nanostructures can also be realized by adding water to the PMMA/THF solution before the immersion process.
Rayleigh Instability in Polymer Thin Films Coated in the Nanopores of Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates
(2014-01-14)
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
應用化學系
;
Department of Applied Chemistry
We study the Rayleigh instability of polystyrene (PS) thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. After thermal annealing, the surface of the PS thin films undulates and the nanostructures transform from nanotubes to Rayleigh-instability-induced nanostructures (short nanorods with encapsulated air bubbles). With longer annealing times, the nanostructures further transform to nanorods with longer lengths. PS samples with two different molecular weights (24 and 100 kg/mol) are used, and their instability transformation processes are compared. The morphology diagrams of the nanostructures at different stages are also constructed to elucidate the mechanism of the morphology transformation.
Rayleigh-Instability-Induced Transformation for Confined Polystyrene Nanotubes Prepared Using the Solvent-Vapor-Induced Wetting Method
(1970-01-01)
Fang, Zhi-Xuan
;
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chang, Chun-Wei
;
Cheng, Ming-Hsiang
Polystyrene (PS) nanotubes prepared using the solvent-vapor-induced wetting method with anodic aluminum oxide templates are for the first time applied to study the thermal stabilities of polymer nanotubes confined in cylindrical geometries. The morphologies of the PS nanotubes and the corresponding transformed PS nanostructures driven by the Rayleigh instabilities after thermal annealing treatments are characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Morphology diagrams of the Rayleigh-instability-induced nanostructures for PS nanotubes prepared via the solvent-vapor-induced wetting method and the solution wetting method are constructed to study the differences in kinetics for samples using different wetting methods. Slower transformation kinetics for the PS samples prepared by the solvent-vapor-induced wetting method than those prepared by the solution wetting method are observed, indicating the better thermal stabilities and the relatively denser packings of the polymer chains in the nanopores for the PS samples prepared using the solvent-vapor-induced wetting method.
Transformation of Polymer Nanofibers to Nanospheres Driven by the Rayleigh Instability
(2013-04-24)
Huang, Yu-Chieh
;
Fan, Ping-Wen
;
Lee, Chih-Wei
;
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
We study the thermal annealing effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers made from anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates and their transformation to PMMA nanospheres. The PMMA nanofibers are prepared by wetting an AAO template with a 30 wt % PMMA solution, followed by the evaporation of the solvent, After the AAO template is removed by a weak base, the PMMA nanofibers are thermally annealed in ethylene glycol, a nonsolvent for PMMA. The surfaces of the nanofibers undulate and transform into nanospheres, driven by the Rayleigh instability. The driving force for the transformation process is the minimization of the interfacial energy between PMMA nanofibers and ethylene glycol. The transformation times at higher annealing temperatures are shorter than those at lower annealing temperatures. This study provides a facile route to prepare polymer nanospheres which are not accessible by other traditional methods.
Wetting in nanopores of cylindrical anodic aluminum oxide templates: Production of gradient polymer nanorod arrays on large-area curved surfaces
(2015-02-01)
Chu, Chien-Wei
;
Huang, Yu-Chieh
;
Tsai, Chia-Chan
;
Chen, Jiun-Tai
;
應用化學系
Although the fabrication of nanostructures has been investigated extensively, it is still a challenge to prepare nanostructures or nanostructure arrays on curved surfaces. In this work, we develop a simple and novel method to fabricate polymer nanorod arrays on large-area curved polymer surfaces with controlled curvatures. This method is based on the wetting of polymer melts in the nanopores of cylindrical anodic aluminum oxide templates, which are prepared by electrochemical anodization of aluminum wires. Polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) melts can wet the nanopores of the templates via capillary force after thermal annealing, resulting in the formation of PMMA nanorod arrays with gradient heights on curved PMMA surfaces. This work not only opens up new possibilities for creating non-planar surfaces with desired nanostructures, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of wetting behavior in confined geometries. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.