Small angle X-ray scattering studies of nanocellular and nanoporous structures

Recently, closed cellular and open porous structures on the nanometer scale have been attracting much attention. Our group has developed a novel method for producing such nanocellular and nanoporous structures using a block copolymer as a template and supercritical carbon dioxide. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has an important role in characterizing nanocells and nanopores. In particular, grazing incidence SAXS reveals embedded nanocellular and nanoporous structures in thin films. In addition, SAXS can be used for in situ measurements to study the process of nanocellular and nanoporous formation in supercritical carbon dioxide. In this focused review, our recent progress on nanocellular and nanoporous fabrication and the use of SAXS techniques to characterize such structures will be presented. Polymer Journal (2013) 45, 3-9; doi: 10.1038/pj.2012.205; published online 21 November 2012