Mesoscopic self-assembling morphology of polymer based on emulsification

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal ed that well-arrayed and uniform-sized mesoscopic honeycomb morphology is f ormed in poly(styrene-alter-maleic anhydride) thin films spin-cast on glass slide substrate from tetrahydrofuran solution with the presence of hydroch loric acid and water. The phenomenon can be interpreted as the trace of wat er droplets emulsified by the hydrolyzed poly(styrene-alter-maleic anhydrid e) during the process of existence-evaporation transition, for which the hy drochloric acid is crucial. The self-assembling morphology may provide poss ibilities for further studies in the area of surface science and template f abrication. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.