SAXS of self-assembled oriented lamellar nano- composite films: an advanced method of evaluation

Oriented lamellar nanocomposites formed of alternating organic and inorganic layers were prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly and studied by small-angle X-ray scattering in symmetrical and asymmetrical re ̄ection. Analytical expressions were used for a quantitative ®t of the experimental data. The ®tting procedure leads to a comprehensive characterization of the lamellar two-phase system in terms of the average thicknesses of the lamellae, the average period and the corresponding variances, using both the stacking model and the lattice model. Furthermore, the width of the domain boundary and the preferred orientation were determined. No signi®cant differences could be found between the parameters obtained for the two models, but the lattice model leads to a better curve ®tting. The effects of ®nite stack height and of instrumental broadening were found to be indistinguishable.