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Abstract: Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) based on a pulsed slow positron beam was applied to study mesoporous silica films, synthesized using amphiphilic PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers as structure-directing agents. The pore size depends on the loading of different templates. Larger pores were formed in silica films templated by copolymers with higher molecular-weights. Using 2-dimensional PALS, open porosity of silica films was also found to be influenced by the molecular-weight as well as the ratio of hydrophobic PPO moiety of the templates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We show that ageing of the silica sol in a closed vessel enhanced the open porosity of calcined mesoporous silica film studied by positron. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) based on a pulsed slow positron beam was used to estimate the mesopore size. 2-dimensional PALS (2D-PALS) and ortho-positronium time-of-flight (Ps-TOF) were used to evaluate the open porosity, interconnectivity and tortuosity of mesopores in the silica films. Results revealed that little change in pore size but significant enhancement of open porosity and/or pore interconnectivity occurred in the silica film deposited after the precursor solution aged for a relative longer time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Positron annihilation lifetime spectra were measured for mesoporous silica films, which were synthesized using triblock copolymer (EO106PO70EO106) as a structure-directing agent. Different positron lifetime spectra for the deposited and calcined films indicated the formation of meso-structure after calcination, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observation. Open porosity or pore interconnectivity of a silica film might be evaluated by a two-dimensional positron annihilation lifetime spectrum of an uncapped film. Pore sizes and their distributions in the silica films were found to be affected by thermal treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) based on an intense pulsed slow positron beam was applied to the study of mesoporous silica films, synthesized using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the network precursor and a triblock copolymer (EO106PO70EO106) as the structure-directing agent. With positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), pore sizes were obtained from ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetimes of the films capped with a 20nm thick SiO2 layer. Influences of preparation conditions such as heating, TEOS vapor infiltration and precursor solution ageing on the pore size were studied. Moreover, the effect of ageing of the precursor solution on film pore interconnectivity/open porosity was investigated through lifetime–energy correlation measurements by observing intrinsic annihilation of o-Ps diffused out from the uncapped film surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]