Fabrication of Pore-Selective Metal-Nanoparticle-Functionalized Honeycomb Films via the Breath Figure Accompanied by In Situ Reduction

Honeycomb films pore-filled with metal (Au, Ag, and Cu) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by combining the breath figure method and an in situ reduction reaction. First, a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based star-shaped polymer solution containing metal salt was cast under humid conditions for the formation of honeycomb films pore-filled with metal salt through the breath figure method. The morphology of the honeycomb films was mainly affected by the polymer molecular structure and the metal salt. Interestingly, the promoting effect of the metal salt in the breath figure process was also observed. Then, honeycomb films pore-filled with metal nanoparticles were obtained by in situ reduction of the honeycomb films pore-filled with metal salt using NaBH4. Notably, the metal nanoparticles can be selectively functionalized in the pores or on the surface of the honeycomb films by controlling the concentration of the NaBH4. Metal-nanoparticle-functionalized honeycomb films can prospectively be used in catalysis, flexible electrodes, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and wettability patterned surfaces.

One-Step Dynamic Fabrication of Asymmetric Multi-Layered Porous Films for Sustained Drug Delivery

Asymmetric multi-layered porous film was prepared by casting inverse emulsion following the breath figure method. The porous morphologies both on the surface and in the bulk of the fabricated film...

Fabrication of porous polymer coating layers with selective wettability on filter papers via the breath figure method and their applications in oil/water separation

A comb-like amphiphilic polymer composed of hydrophobic backbones and hydrophilic side groups, was employed to in situ grow honeycomb coatings on filter paper via directly polymer solution casting and by the subsequent dynamic breath figure method.