Formation of honeycomb structure in poly(N-vinylcarbazole)/cellulose triacetate composite films

Abstract

Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) composites containing different concentrations of cellulose triacetate (CTA) were synthesized through oxidative polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole with ferric chloride. Characterization and thermal stability of the synthesized composite were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet—visible (UV—Vis) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Surface morphology of the synthesized composites was studied using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Well-ordered porous films of the polymer composites were fabricated by evaporation of the composite solution dissolved in a volatile solvent under humid conditions. The PVK—CTA composite formed a highly well-ordered honeycomb pattern with the appropriate concentration of CTA in the absence of any kind of amphiphilic copolymer to stabilize the air—water interface. Findings of this study indicate that uniformly dispersed CTA is responsible for the stability of the air—water interface in the composite solution, thus enabling the formation of a highly ordered polymer film.