Time-Resolved Simultaneous Detection of Structural and Chemical Changes during Self-Assembly of Mesostructured Films

In situ and time-resolved simultaneous analysis by two different and complementary techniques, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), has been developed. A conventional source for the infrared light and synchrotron radiation for the X-ray beam have been used. The new technique has been applied to the study of self-assembling mesostructured films during dip-coating. The combined FTIR and SAXS analytical approach has given the possibility of getting a direct correlation between the chemical processes and the structural changes occurring in the film during the deposition.