Micropatterning of Polystyrene-Alumina Nanocomposite Film by Non-Solvent Induced Phase Separation

The objective of the present study is to fabricate micropatterned polystyrene-alumina nanocomposite (PAN) film by immersing the casted PAN/toluene solution into the bath of a non-solvent of the polymer. Immediate precipitation occurs and creates concavities on the surface of PAN cast after drying due to phase separation induced by solvent non-solvent exchange mechanism assisted by amphiphilic modified alumina particle. PAN film with relatively uniform micropatterns is formed which have the maximum dispersion limit of particles. The effect of particle loading and dispersion on the morphology of pattern is investigated, and a possible mechanism is discussed.