Block
copolymer templating enables the generation of well-defined
pore sizes and geometries in a wide variety of frameworks, typically
through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). Here, we systematically
modulate the solvent quality with mixtures of tetrahydrofuran–ethanol
(THF–EtOH) to manipulate the unimer/micelle ratio in the precursor
solution to explore how the associated solution structure influences
the final pore morphology. A bottlebrush block copolymer (BBCP) with
poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(t-butyl acrylate) side
chains was used as the template for pore formation. Irrespective of
the solvent composition, a bimodal pore size distribution was obtained
with mesopores templated by small aggregates of the BBCP unimers (potentially
low aggregation number micelles) and macropores templated by large
self-assembled BBCP micelles. The morphology and pore characteristics
of the metal oxide films were dependent on the THF–EtOH composition.
Interestingly, an intermediate solvent composition where the volume
of micelles is approximately half the volume of unimers (in the precursor
solution) leads to the best ordering of micelle-templated pores and
also the maximum porosity in the films. The micelle/unimer ratios
in the precursor solutions do not correspond directly to the bimodal
pore distribution in the metal oxide films, which we attribute to
kinetically trapped assembly of the BBCP at a low THF content. The
increased critical micelle concentration at high THF composition leads
to changes in the unimer/micelle ratio during solvent evaporation.
These results appear to be universal for a number of metal oxides
(cobalt, magnesium, and zinc) with the porosity maximized at a THF/EtOH
ratio of 3:1. These results suggest the potential for enhancements
in the porosity of block copolymer-templated films by EISA methods
through judicious solvent selection.