Nanostructured polysilane–titania hybrids and their application to porous titania thin films

We have prepared polysilane–titania hybrid thin films using titanium alkoxides with poly(methylphenylsilane)/3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane block copolymer (P(MPS-co-MPTES)) via sol–gel reaction. The polysilane block copolymer bonded to titania component through SiOTi derived from hydrolysis/condensation of P(MPS-co-MPTES) and Ti(O-n-C4H9)4. Additionally, it was found by tapping-mode atomic force microscope (AFM) that the polysilane segments disperse in titania component in a range of several 10 nm. The polysilane–titania hybrid thin films have been applied to prepare nanoporous titania thin films.