Honeycomb-patterned fluorescent films fabricated by self-assembly of surfactant-assisted porphyrin/polymer composites

A novel honeycomb-patterned fluorescent film was fabricated by self-assembly of polystyrene (PS)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/meso-tetra (N-methy-4-pyridyl) porphinetetratosylate (TMPyP) blend system, at the assistance of diisooctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT). Ordered microporous PS/PEG/TMPyP/AOT blend films were prepared by the breath figure method. The condensed water droplets acted as the sacrificial templates, which were stabilized by strong hygroscopic PEG and amphiphilic surfactant AOT. Relative humidity and evaporation conditions considered as critical factors were investigated to control the morphologies of the films. The introduction of surfactant AOT greatly promoted the dissolution of the TMPyP in PS/PEG polymer solution according to the UV-vis spectra data, which led to the fluorescence enhancement of ordered porous blend films. The unique "internal ring" structures were formed during phase separation and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy images and fluorescence micrographs. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.