Fabrication and characterization of polymer micro- and nanostructures by template-based method

Identifier:  TDX:261

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX261

Authors:  Palacios Higueras, Raquel

Abstract:
The fabrication of polymer micro- and nanostructures has received an increasing interest due to its potential applications in fields such as sensors, solar cells and light-emitting diodes. In this thesis, we have developed the template-based method, which consists on the infiltration of a specific material into a cavity (called template) to obtain the inverse replica of the template. This method has been studied using different experimental conditions. Macroporous silicon and self-ordered nanoporous alumina have been employed as templates. Polymer micro- and nanostructures were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis absorbance, photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Then, the morphology, optical properties and the degree of crystallinity of the micro- and nanostructures were analysed. Finally, the influence of the solvent, the structure and the experimental method in the conformation of the polymer chains inside the nanopores were studied.