Fabrication of honeycomb polymeric films via breath-figure process under methanol atmosphere

Abstract

In this paper, highly ordered honeycomb polymeric films were prepared via a static breath-figure process under methanol atmosphere for the first time. The employed block copolymer, poly (dimethylsiloxane)-block-polystyrene (PDMS-b-PS), was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The influences of vapor atmosphere and the concentration of polymer solution on the morphology of the porous films were also investigated. Versus the morphologies of honeycomb polymer films fabricated under the saturated relative humidity, it was found that the average pore size of honeycomb films increased and the cross-sectional view of pore appeared in a shape of "U". This research may be helpful to explore the formation mechanism of honeycomb porous structures during the breath figure process.